Lena Torres
Jellyfish are present in Puget Sound, with species including the moon jelly, lion's mane jelly, egg yolk jelly, sea nettle, and upside-down jelly. Data on jellyfish abundance in Puget Sound is limited, but it appears that their numbers are increasing, possibly due to changing water conditions, warmer temperatures, and the presence of a persistent patch of warm water known as the Blob. Jellyfish are considered plankton and drift with ocean currents, attracting other drifters such as young crabs and fish. While jellyfish stings can cause pain and irritation, their presence in Puget Sound provides an opportunity for observation and learning about their behaviour and impact on the ecosystem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Presence of jellyfish | Yes |
| Species observed | Scyphomedusae Cyanea capillata, Phacellophora camschatica, Aurelia sp., the Hydromedusa Aequorea sp., and the Ctenophore Pleurobrachia bachei |
| Abundance | High, with relative abundances of 80-90% of total trawl biomass at multiple sites |
| Possible causes of abundance | Eutrophication, climate warming, coastal development, fishing pressure |
| Potential impact | High potential to disrupt food webs by displacing forage fish and other mid-trophic consumers, leading to dramatic changes in the ecosystem |
| Mass aggregations ("smacks") | Common during the summer, with some aggregations visible from aircraft |
| Biomass records | Reached record levels in Budd Inlet and other finger inlets of South Puget Sound in fall 2014 and summer 2015 |
| Water conditions | Coincided with unusually warm water ("the Blob") and drought conditions in 2015 |
| Specific species | Moon jellies, egg yolk jellies, lion's mane jellies, spotted lagoon jellies, upside-down jellies |
| Sting danger | Mild to moderate sting, not considered very dangerous |
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What You'll Learn
Moon jellyfish are common in Puget Sound
Moon jellyfish are often spotted in Puget Sound during the summer months. They are one of the few jellyfish species that are common in the cooler, temperate waters of the Salish Sea. Moon jellyfish blooms or mass aggregations, also known as "smacks", are frequently seen in Puget Sound. These aggregations can become so large that they are visible from aircraft flying overhead. Moon jellyfish are not dangerous, but their sting can cause mild pain and irritation.
Moon jellyfish feed on tiny plankton, collecting them with their frilly "mouth arms" and thin, sticky tentacles. They are, in turn, preyed upon by other jellyfish, including the egg yolk jelly and lion's mane jelly. Moon jellies are often found near Puget Sound docks, and they can be seen in the touchable jelly globe at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
The abundance of moon jellyfish in Puget Sound may be related to changing water conditions. Scientists have observed that jellyfish biomass reached record levels in Budd Inlet and other finger inlets of South Puget Sound during the fall of 2014 and summer of 2015. This coincided with an unusually warm patch of water coming in from the Pacific, nicknamed "the Blob", and with drought conditions in 2015.
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Lion's mane jellyfish are the largest species found in Puget Sound
Puget Sound is home to a variety of jellyfish species, including the moon jellyfish, purple-striped sea nettle, Aurelia labiata, and the lion's mane jellyfish. The lion's mane jellyfish is the largest known species found in Puget Sound.
Lion's mane jellyfish are easily identifiable by their bright red and orange coloration and large medusa with many long, stinging tentacles. They are classified as plankton and drift with ocean currents, attracting fellow drifters such as young crabs and fish, which hide from predators among their treacherous tentacles. They are generally found in mid-pelagic waters but sometimes float on the surface, moving with the currents and only able to move vertically.
The lion's mane jellyfish is not the only species of jellyfish found in Puget Sound. The moon jellyfish, for example, is a common species in the area. Moon jellies are easily recognised by their four-lobed clover design and short tentacles. They feed on tiny plankton, which they collect with their frilly, folded "mouth arms". Moon jellies are often transparent, allowing observers to see if they have eaten recently.
The abundance of jellyfish in Puget Sound appears to be increasing, with some sources suggesting that this could be due to changing water conditions, such as the warm patch of water known as "the Blob", as well as drought conditions in 2015. The increase in jellyfish could have significant impacts on the Puget Sound ecosystem, as they have few predators and could potentially disrupt food webs by displacing forage fish and other mid-trophic consumers.
While the lion's mane jellyfish is the largest species found in Puget Sound, other jellyfish species in the area also play important roles in the ecosystem, interacting with other species and responding to changing environmental conditions.
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Puget Sound jellyfish populations may be increasing
While jellyfish have been spotted in Puget Sound, the data on their abundance is limited. However, there are indications that jellyfish populations in the region may be increasing. Jellyfish "smacks," or mass aggregations, are a common occurrence in Puget Sound during the summer, and their numbers seem to be growing. Scientists have observed that jellyfish biomass reached record levels in Budd Inlet and other inlets of South Puget Sound in 2014 and 2015, coinciding with an unusually warm patch of water nicknamed "the Blob" and drought conditions.
The potential increase in jellyfish populations in Puget Sound could be attributed to various factors. One hypothesis suggests a correlation between anthropogenically-perturbed systems and increased jellyfish abundance. Additionally, eutrophication, climate warming, coastal development, and fishing pressure are all factors known to contribute to jellyfish outbursts, and these factors are also present in Puget Sound to varying degrees. The specific causes and consequences of changing jellyfish abundance in the region require further investigation and improved monitoring of spatial and temporal variability.
Moon jellies, a type of jellyfish, are commonly found in the waters of Puget Sound. They are known for their frilly "mouth arms" and thin, sticky tentacles, which they use to capture prey. Moon jellies are considered plankton, as they drift with the ocean currents. They are often found near docks and can be seen from aircraft flying over Puget Sound during routine water quality monitoring. While they possess a mild sting, they do not pose a significant threat to human swimmers.
The presence of jellyfish in Puget Sound has potential ecological implications. Due to their lack of predators, jellyfish have the potential to disrupt food webs by outcompeting forage fish and other mid-trophic consumers. This could lead to dramatic changes in the Puget Sound ecosystem. Additionally, jellyfish blooms, or increases in jellyfish populations, have been observed globally, raising concerns about the impact of changing ocean conditions on jellyfish abundance.
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Jellyfish are considered plankton
Moon jellies, a type of jellyfish, are considered plankton. They float in the water and move wherever the ocean currents take them. They are slow swimmers, but the moon jelly has adapted some directional swimming abilities. Moon jellies live in salt or brackish waters and coastal waters of all zones. They eat plankton, which they collect with their frilly "mouth arms" and pass up to their mouths.
Lion's mane jellyfish are also considered plankton. They are the largest species of jellyfish and are found in mid-pelagic waters, sometimes floating on the surface. They can only move vertically and drift with the ocean currents.
Jellyfish are classified as gelatinous zooplankton, which are fragile animals that live in the water column in the ocean. Their bodies are delicate and easily damaged or destroyed, with no hard body parts. They are often transparent. All jellyfish are gelatinous zooplankton, but not all gelatinous zooplankton are jellyfish. Other commonly encountered gelatinous zooplankton include ctenophores, medusae, salps, and Chaetognatha in coastal waters.
Plankton are marine drifters, or organisms carried along by tides and currents. They are a crucial link between phytoplankton and larger, open-ocean animals. Zooplankton include microscopic animals like krill, sea snails, and pelagic worms, as well as the young of larger invertebrates and fish, and weak swimmers like jellyfish. Most zooplankton eat phytoplankton and are, in turn, eaten by larger animals or each other.
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Puget Sound jellyfish have few predators
Jellyfish are considered plankton, and they drift with the ocean currents. Their movement is often dictated by the currents, and they can float wherever the currents take them. This drifting behaviour can lead to jellyfish blooms, where thousands of jellyfish congregate in the same area. These blooms may be caused by high prey concentrations that support a high population density.
The limited data available suggests that jellyfish are present in Puget Sound, with some species observed at high abundances. However, the data is insufficient to determine the temporal patterns of jellyfish abundance in the region. Improved monitoring of spatial and temporal variability in jellyfish populations could help elucidate the causes and consequences of changing jellyfish abundance in Puget Sound.
Jellyfish play a crucial role in the ocean food chain by consuming plankton and serving as prey for other animals. Their populations are typically stable, but recently, they have been blooming in unusual places. This phenomenon may be related to human activities and climate change, which can favour the rapid growth of jellyfish populations.
The high diet overlap between jellyfish and forage fish, such as herring, has been linked to increases in jellyfish abundance in systems where forage fish populations have declined. Jellyfish predation on the eggs and juvenile phases of competing fish species can impede the recovery and reestablishment of fish populations. Therefore, the lack of predators for Puget Sound jellyfish has significant implications for the region's ecosystem and marine life.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are jellyfish in Puget Sound.
Jellyfish species found in Puget Sound include the moon jelly, the egg yolk jelly, the lion's mane jelly, Aurelia labiate, Phacellophora camschatica, Aurelia sp., the Hydromedusa Aequorea sp., and the Ctenophore Pleurobrachia bachei.
Yes, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has jellyfish on display, including moon jellies.
None of the jellyfish species in Puget Sound are considered very dangerous, but their stings can cause pain and irritation.
Jellyfish biomass reached record levels in Puget Sound in the fall of 2014 and summer of 2015, and scientists are working to understand the causes of this increase.
