Conservation & Threats

Sacoglossan opisthobranchs have been found in the past to suffer from declining population sizes from a variety of causes, including habitat destruction, siltation, eutrophication and overcollection (Clark 1994). Conservation of sacoglossan biodiversity requires the protection of vital optimal habitats, which are concentrated in near shore ecosystems. Eutrophication and siltation are major threats as inhibiting the available light to these ecosystems would affect plant growth, as well as the kleptoplastic functioning of chloroplasts within the animals digestive tract.