| Whether you are looking at scientific data or you find | | | | only be a reality once the global climate patterns |
| yourself caught in a drought in the middle of spring, | | | | stabilize. |
| the effects of global warming are becoming | | | | For most, summer droughts mean hot days and dry |
| increasingly clear. We know from drastic climate | | | | gardens. For jellies, however, it means saltier waters. |
| changes that the environment is in trouble. But while | | | | As rain becomes less frequent there is less fresh |
| weather patterns are some of the most visible | | | | water entering the ocean. Although it's not the case |
| indicators of climate change, we are able to look at | | | | with all jellies, most will benefit from a higher salt |
| other patterns in the ecosystem as equally important | | | | content. This also relates to other predators and fish |
| measurements. Among these patterns are jellyfish | | | | species, which are less tolerant of the salt increase |
| blooms, which are proliferating at an incredible rate. | | | | and will often move from the coast into deeper, less |
| There are a number of factors contributing to the | | | | salty waters. |
| increase of jellyfish blooms, most of which are linked | | | | As the ocean gets warmer and the water level rises, |
| to global warming. Jellyfish are thriving due to warmer | | | | the jellyfish survival rate also goes up. It creates the |
| and saltier waters as well as an increase in plankton | | | | right conditions for jellyfish blooms to prosper, which |
| growth. In addition, overfishing has created a niche | | | | results in a longer span of migration. Now there are |
| for jellyfish to exploit. In years before predators | | | | jellyfish species that are being labeled invasive. |
| were consuming much more of the ocean's nutrients. | | | | Beachgoers have to swim with a new element of |
| Now however, there is less competition leaving more | | | | caution, unable to know which new species has |
| for jellyfish. This is also the case with agricultural | | | | moved in, and which has left. |
| runoff, where jellyfish are able to capitalize on the | | | | As the growing jellyfish population indicates, global |
| organisms feeding on the bacteria. | | | | warming is much more than unusual weather |
| The current trend in climate change shows that the | | | | patterns. We are able to see that it affects all |
| ice cover is melting much later in the spring, spawning | | | | aspects of the ecosystem from the smallest |
| more rapid and increased amounts of plankton | | | | microorganisms to the largest fish. Regardless of |
| growth. There are various theories based on this | | | | whether you consider jellyfish to be worthless blobs |
| evidence, but perhaps the strongest supports the | | | | of jelly or the flowers of the sea, their incredible rate |
| idea that increased sunlight is favorable for the | | | | of proliferation is just as significant a warning as |
| plankton. This is especially true in colder regions such | | | | winters without snow or summers without heat. |
| as the Bearing Sea, where scientists and fisherman | | | | Jellyfish are just one reason we need to take our |
| alike have noticed drastic increases in jellyfish blooms. | | | | climate change initiative a bit more seriously. |
| But despite recent awareness, population control will | | | | |