Brian Barton
Jellyfish are one of the oldest multi-organ animals on Earth, having existed for over 500 million years, pre-dating dinosaurs. While thousands of animals are at risk of extinction due to human activity, jellyfish are thriving in warm, polluted water. They are more tolerant of low oxygen levels and high nutrient concentrations than many other marine organisms, allowing them to thrive in polluted areas where other species struggle to survive. Their ability to reproduce quickly and prolifically, coupled with rising ocean temperatures, overfishing, and pollution, has led to an explosion in jellyfish populations, causing problems for power plants, fisheries, tourism, and marine ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution | Jellyfish thrive in polluted waters with low oxygen levels |
| Eutrophication | Excess of nutrients in the water, often due to agricultural or urban pollution, increases the availability of food for jellyfish |
| Climate Change | Warmer waters favor jellyfish reproduction and survival |
| Overfishing | Reduces the populations of fish that compete with or prey on jellyfish |
| Ocean Acidification | Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to more carbon dioxide entering the ocean, making seawater more acidic |
| Nutrient Enrichment | Increased nutrient runoff from agriculture and sewage can fuel phytoplankton blooms, providing more food for jellyfish |
| Microplastic Filtration | Jellyfish mucus can trap microplastics, potentially removing them from the water column |
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What You'll Learn
- Jellyfish are resilient to fluctuating temperatures, acidity and salinity
- They can tolerate low oxygen levels, unlike other marine life
- Warmer waters favour jellyfish reproduction and growth
- Eutrophication increases the availability of food for jellyfish
- Jellyfish mucus can trap microplastics, removing them from the water
Jellyfish are resilient to fluctuating temperatures, acidity and salinity
While climate change and pollution are driving animal populations down on an unprecedented scale, jellyfish are one group of creatures that are bucking this trend. Jellyfish have been found to be resilient to fluctuating temperatures, acidity, and salinity.
Jellyfish have been found to be resistant to ocean acidification. Since the beginning of the industrial era, the world's oceans have absorbed 525 billion tons of CO2, which reacts with water to produce carbonic acid. While most species fare poorly in these newly acidic oceans, jellyfish seem to be resistant to acidification. Research has shown that as pH levels drop in the ocean, jellyfish numbers rise. Scientists have discovered this by looking at places in the ocean where CO2 levels are naturally higher, such as near volcanic seeps in the Mediterranean. In these locations, jellyfish exist in much higher numbers than elsewhere.
Jellyfish are also resilient to changes in water temperature. Warmer waters often favor jellyfish growth, as higher water temperatures lead jellyfish embryos and larvae to develop more quickly, and the animals enjoy longer reproductive periods. However, this is dependent on there being enough food for the jellyfish. Warmer waters also mean less oxygen, which hurts many marine creatures but not jellyfish, as some types of jellyfish are tolerant of very low-oxygen conditions.
In addition, jellyfish can survive in both high and low salinity. Some jellyfish grow and survive better when the ocean is at or above its normal level of saltiness, so drier conditions can lead to more jellyfish. However, heavier rain makes seawater less salty, which can lead to low salinity in coastal waters and decreased jellyfish outbreaks.
Overall, jellyfish are resilient to fluctuations in temperature, acidity, and salinity, which has allowed their populations to grow at explosive rates in the face of climate change and pollution.
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They can tolerate low oxygen levels, unlike other marine life
While jellyfish populations are thriving in the face of climate change, pollution, and overfishing, thousands of other animal species are at risk of extinction. Jellyfish are tolerant of low oxygen levels, unlike other marine life, which is one of the reasons why they are able to survive in polluted waters.
Jellyfish have been around for at least 500 million years, making them older than dinosaurs and trees. They are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and their abundance, distribution, and species composition can provide valuable insights into the health of marine ecosystems. Climate change, specifically rising ocean temperatures, has been identified as a key factor in the increase in jellyfish populations. Warmer waters favor the reproduction and growth of jellyfish, and in mid-latitudes, higher water temperatures lead to faster development of jellyfish embryos and larvae, as well as longer reproductive periods.
In addition to climate change, human activities such as overfishing and pollution are contributing to the rise in jellyfish numbers. Overfishing reduces the populations of marine predators that feed on jellyfish, such as sea turtles and tuna. At the same time, it removes competition for food sources, as fish like anchovies and squid that feed on the same plankton as jellyfish are also targeted by fishing industries. Pollution, particularly agricultural and urban pollution, increases the availability of nutrients in the water, providing more food for jellyfish. Jellyfish are also able to tolerate the low oxygen levels that are often associated with polluted waters, giving them a competitive advantage over other marine life that requires higher oxygen levels to survive.
The increase in jellyfish populations has had significant impacts on marine ecosystems and human activities. Jellyfish blooms, or large swarms of jellyfish, have forced beach closures, caused power outages, and killed other fish. They can clog the water intakes of power plants and desalination plants, compromising their operation. Additionally, the presence of large numbers of jellyfish can deter tourists from swimming and water sports, impacting the local economy. While jellyfish play a significant role in marine ecosystems, their rapid population growth can disrupt the delicate balance of these ecosystems and have far-reaching consequences.
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Warmer waters favour jellyfish reproduction and growth
Warmer waters, caused by climate change, have been linked to the rise in jellyfish populations. Research has shown that the increase in jellyfish numbers can be attributed to human activity. Oceans absorb 93% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, leading to a rise in ocean temperatures. This warming of the oceans has favoured jellyfish reproduction and growth.
Jellyfish embryos and larvae develop more quickly in warmer waters, leading to faster population growth. Warmer waters also result in lower oxygen levels, which can be detrimental to many marine creatures but not jellyfish. Some jellyfish species are tolerant of very low-oxygen conditions, allowing them to thrive in these environments.
The preference for warmer waters varies among jellyfish species. While some jellyfish thrive in higher temperatures, others may be negatively impacted as their cold-water habitats shrink. Additionally, the availability of food sources plays a crucial role in jellyfish population dynamics. Warmer oceans can lead to an increase in plankton, providing an abundant food source for jellyfish.
Human activities, such as overfishing, have also contributed to the rise in jellyfish numbers. The removal of natural predators like sea turtles and tuna has reduced competition for food and created favourable conditions for jellyfish. Furthermore, agricultural runoff and fertiliser pollution have led to an increase in plankton, which jellyfish feed on.
The growth in jellyfish populations has had significant ecological impacts. Jellyfish consume large quantities of plankton, disrupting the marine food chain and depriving small fish of their primary food source. The increase in jellyfish numbers has also affected seaside infrastructure, causing power outages and issues for desalination plants.
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Eutrophication increases the availability of food for jellyfish
Eutrophication is a process that occurs when farming pesticides and sewage pumped into rivers meet the ocean. This process affects phytoplankton, tiny aquatic plants that serve as a food source for numerous sea creatures. Typically, phytoplankton relies on nutrients from chemicals released by the seabed. Eutrophication, caused by human activities, increases the availability of nutrients in the water, which directly impacts the growth of jellyfish populations.
Jellyfish, a highly abundant taxa, play a critical role in marine food webs. They are efficient feeders, consuming huge quantities of plankton and even the eggs of small fish, thus depriving these fish of their food and disrupting the natural food chain. Eutrophication, by increasing nutrient levels, indirectly contributes to this disruption by enhancing the growth and size of jellyfish.
Research has shown that elevated nutrient availability leads to increased body mass in jellyfish. This is likely due to an elevated autotrophic carbon supply, which also contributes to their rapid growth. Larger jellyfish may have a more significant impact on food webs, as they can consume larger prey and reproduce earlier and at a higher rate.
Additionally, eutrophication-induced nutrient enrichment can affect the growth rates of jellyfish, influencing the structure of marine food webs. Human activities, such as nutrient loading, can alter the size structure of jellyfish populations, further exacerbating the issue. Eutrophication, therefore, plays a role in increasing the availability of food for jellyfish and indirectly contributes to their population growth and impact on marine ecosystems.
It is important to note that jellyfish are resilient creatures that can tolerate a variety of environmental conditions, including low oxygen levels. This adaptability, coupled with the increased food availability caused by eutrophication, contributes to their thriving populations even in polluted and warming waters.
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Jellyfish mucus can trap microplastics, removing them from the water
While jellyfish are thriving in warm, polluted water, the worldwide microplastics pollution is a serious environmental and health problem. The mucus of jellyfish has been found to be an effective bioflocculent material that can trap polystyrene microplastics in water.
Jellyfish mucus has an absorbing property that can catch microplastics that are present in water. These plastics are not visible to the eye and aren't caught by seawater treatment plants, so they enter our system and harm our health. The mucus can trap these microplastics and make them stick to its surface, creating a giant blob of mucus and microplastics that is easier to extract and remove.
The EU-funded project, GoJelly, aims to develop sustainable, jellyfish-derived products and create a filter for wastewater treatment plants using the animal's mucus. The project received €6 million in funding under the Horizon 2020 program and is examining the mucus of different jellyfish species to analyse their absorption properties and potential methods of preservation.
The idea of using jellyfish mucus to fight microplastic pollution is a great way to help address the issue. However, there are still some challenges to be addressed, such as scaling up the process and determining the amount of mucus needed to address the vast volume of the ocean.
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Frequently asked questions
Jellyfish are resilient creatures that can tolerate fluctuating temperatures, acidity, salinity, and low oxygen levels. They are able to thrive in polluted waters, and their populations are increasing due to human activities such as climate change, overfishing, and agricultural pollution. However, ocean acidification caused by increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere can impact both young jellyfish and their food sources, potentially affecting their populations.
Pollution, specifically agricultural and urban pollution, can lead to eutrophication, which is an excess of nutrients in the water. This increases the availability of food for jellyfish, as it fuels phytoplankton blooms, providing them with more prey.
Overfishing reduces the populations of marine predators that compete with or prey on jellyfish, such as tuna and turtles. This removal of natural predators allows jellyfish populations to thrive unchecked.
The proliferation of jellyfish, known as "jellyfish blooms," can cause various problems. They can clog the water intakes of power plants and desalination plants, leading to potential failures. Jellyfish blooms also affect fisheries, competing with fish for food and directly preying on fish larvae, resulting in decreased fish populations and reduced catches for fishermen. Additionally, jellyfish stings can range from painless to severe pain and, in rare cases, even death, posing a threat to swimmers and tourists.
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