Jun 3, 2009 10:03 pm US/Eastern
Jellyfish Swarms To Greet Summer Beachgoers
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Planning a swim in the ocean this summer? Well, plan to have lots of company!
Jellyfish (also called sea jellies) swarms are on the rise all around the world, including right here along our coast.
"Jellies are really very simple, but very adaptable critters, and they are becoming one of the most abundant creatures in the ocean," said Dr. Billy Spitzer of the New England Aquarium.
And the season for them begins now. "Every year there is a kinda bloom of jellies that happens in the spring and into the summer as the water warms up," he added.
From graceful to slimy, you can describe sea jellies in many ways, but most of all, these creatures are unique.
"They've got no brains, no hearts, no lungs, but they actually have a great lifestyle," Spitzer said.
And their lifestyle is benefitting from ours. "The more the oceans warm, the more polluted they are, the more overfishing we do, the better it is for jellies. These creatures are like the cockroaches of the ocean. They are resilient and adaptable," Spitzer added.
According to the New England Aquarium, our local jelly population peaks in August, when ocean water temps are warmest. Although most local species don't sting, moon jellies, the most common of local jellies, can cause a rash similar to a mild case of poison ivy. The lion's mane, a jelly that can grow up to a foot in diameter, is a mean stinger. An encounter with one of them can result in some first aid.
And every season during late summer, the infamous Portuguese man 'o war makes an unwelcomed appearance in the waters off the Cape and Islands. The sting can be serious requiring a trip to the emergency room.
"What might happen to the oceans over time is we might see a rise of slime," Spitzer said. "Less big fish. Less whales, less turtles. Instead, more of things that can survive on anything, anytime like sea jellies. The population boom is an indicator of ocean health. It is changing in many ways and not for the better," concluded Dr. Spitzer.
Check out the Amazing Jellies exhibit at the New England Aquarium:
http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/amazing_jellies/index.php
Dig deeper into jellyfish blooms:
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/jellyfish/index.jsp.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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