Are you jelly yet?!

This week, while researching about ocean acidification, I came across something interesting (at least to me it’s interesting) about the increase sighting of jellyfish! To me, jellyfish are always fascinating, the way they look so different from other marine organisms, the way they grow and survive and move around, and how such a cool creature could be so deathly to humans.

Just a few days ago, the public were generally shocked to spot gigantic jellyfish washed up along Britain beaches, and are also concerned if there could be more in the shallow waters of the beaches. This species, the barrel jellyfish, is one of the largest and although they are not harmful in their stings, public were warned against touching them with bare hands. How I wish I could see one myself too!

Speculations have been made that human activity such as aquaculture or the causation of eutrophication may increase jellyfish population as well, as jellyfish feed on smaller phytoplankton and zooplankton. Correlations have also been observed where an increase in temperature and decease in pH increase jellyfish occurrences. While many marine animals are going to be badly affected by increasing acidity levels in the ocean, jellyfish seemed to be immune and instead, move in to fill the ecological niche. Although jellyfish overpopulation could lead to more problems and major complications, it is still interesting to know that ocean acidification could benefit jellyfish growth!

References

Attrill, Martin J, Jade Wright, and Martin Edwards. "Climate-Related Increases in Jellyfish Frequency Suggest a More Gelatinous Future for the North Sea." Limnology and Oceanography 52, no. 1 (2007): 480-85.

Dassanayake, Dion. "Giant Jellyfish Swarming to British Beaches Because of 'Plankton Boom'." Daily Express, 2014.

Derbyshire, David. "Jellyfish Are Taking over the Oceans: Population Surge as Rising Acidity of World's Seas Kills Predators." Daily Mail, 2010.

Purcell, Jennifer E, Shin-ichi Uye, and Wen-Tseng Lo. "Anthropogenic Causes of Jellyfish Blooms and Their Direct Consequences for Humans: A Review." MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES- 350 (2007): 153.