Jellyfish outbreaks a sign of nature out of sync

terradaily.com ^ | June 19, 2008 | Staff Writers

[PROCON]

The dramatic proliferation of jellyfish in oceans around the world, driven by overfishing and climate change, is a sure sign of ecosystems out of kilter, warn experts. "Jellyfish are an excellent bellwether for the environment," explains Jacqueline Goy, of the Oceanographic Institute of Paris. "The more jellyfish, the stronger the signal that something has changed."

Brainless creatures composed almost entirely of water, the primitive animals have quietly filled a vacuum created by the voracious human appetite for fish.

Dislodging them will be difficult, marine biologists say.

"Jellyfish have come to occupy the place of many other species," notes Ricardo Aguilar, research director for Oceana, a international conservation organisation

[goodwithagun]

“Jellyfish are an excellent bellwether for the environment,” explains Jacqueline Goy, of the Oceanographic Institute of Paris. “The more jellyfish, the stronger the signal that something has changed.”

i m a publik scewl teechur not a marine biologist, but since when have jellyfish set an eco standard? Did she just pull this out of her butt?

[hobie-one]

Ok, so the jellyfish are becoming too numerous. Other than sea turtles, what eats them? I know the fishing nets that are used here on the east coast have turtle “escape” hatches to help cut down on the collateral catch.

[Brilliant]

“Brainless creatures composed almost entirely of water...”

I was thinking Obama at first, but now that you say it that way, it sounds more like Gore.

[GoldMan]

It’s nothing that a little offshore drilling won’t cure.</sarcasm>

[Interesting Times]

Primitive people might interpret an unusual number of jellyfish as a sign that they had done something to offende an aquatic deity. Fortunately, modern science has advanced far beyond such absurd superstitions.

Unless grant money is involved.

[fireforeffect]

I thought RUSH covered this yesterday.

[woollyone]

Vote ‘em out of office!

oops...I thought this was an article about the increase in liberalism.

...never mind

[Names Ash Housewares]

It's their fault.......

[Arkansas Toothpick]

That is EXACTLY correct! Nature is what nature is (apologies to Bill Clinton). After all, aren’t 99% of these alarmists also practicing members of the Church of Darwin? The credo of that religion is that everything is the result of chance, meaningless actions. Therefore, how you can you know what “sync” is and isn’t??

[Jeff Chandler]

I thought they were talking about Dems.

Nope. Republican politicians have exclusive right to the title "jellyfish".

[Dan Cooper]

"Jellyfish are an excellent bellwether for the environment," explains Jacqueline Goy, of the Oceanographic Institute of Paris. "The more jellyfish, the stronger the signal that something has changed."

And we all know that change is bad...no, wait, change is good. Change! Hope!

[JWinNC]

"Nature is never in sync." Ditto, Romans 8:20-23

[Bon mots]

I ate jellyfish the last time I was in China.
I don’t see the problem.

[wbill]

Brainless creatures composed almost entirely of water

Not unlike the "scientists" that came up with this theory.....

[Cobra64]

Maybe this no longer applies:

[Tolkien]

What did the Jellyfish eat to get to be so many?

Then what did that creature eat to get to be so many?

Then what did that creature eat to get to be so many?

Then what did that creature eat to get to be so many?

Then what did that creature eat to get to be so many?

Then what did that creature eat to get to be so many?

Then what did that creature eat to get to be so many?

Scientists indeed. /sarc

[jimfree]

Three extra words at the end of the title.

[BoneHead]

Love your graphic!

Brainless creatures composed almost entirely of water, the primitive animals have quietly filled a vacuum created by the voracious human appetite for fish.

Dislodging them will be difficult, marine biologists say.

How hard can it be Mr Biologist, they are brainless! Don't you have a college degree??? Why do we need to dislodge them?

I am always annoyed when scientists base their grand formulations for the worlds oceans on a study of the Mediteranean sea.

Two centuries worth of data shows that jellyfish populations naturally swell every 12 years, remain stable four or six years, and then subside.

2008, however, will be the eighth consecutive year that medusae, as they are also known, will be present in massive numbers.

How good is that 200 years data. what species does it cover and how complete is it. I ask that because of the following:

But just how many millions, or billions, of jellyfish roam the seas is nearly impossible to know, said scientists.

For one things, the boneless, translucent animals -- even big ones grouped in large swarms -- are hard to spot in satellite images or sonar soundings, unlike schools of fish.

They are also resist study in captivity, which means a relative paucity of academic studies.

"There are only 20 percent of species of jellyfish for which we know the life cycle," said Goy.

Oh by all means, lets make some grandious global dictates based upon our limited knowledge of jelly fish...

So lets summarize: We have 200 years of data for some portion less than 20% of known jelly fish species and a relative paucity of academic studies in the field. We don't know how many roam the oceans and we have one or two extended periods of dominance for one noted species/family.

Now get back to work!

[BoneHead]

I ate jellyfish the last time I was in China. I don’t see the problem.

More information please. How was it prepared? What was it like?

[Bon mots]

It was dry and crunchy along with the other appetizers before a meal of Peking Duck in Beijing. Tasted a bit salty if I remember correctly, but otherwise like a light snack food.