Massive wave of jellyfish to attack Japan

iamzrad

iamzrad

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Japanese marine experts have given warning that the country's northern coastline is under threat from a plague of jellyfish.


Fishermen in northern Japan are braced for a "massive" inundation of huge Nomura's jellyfish this autumn.
One of the largest jellyfish in the world, the species can grow up to 2 meters in diameter and weigh 200 kg. The last time the phenomenon occured on a similar scale was in the summer of 2005 when the jellyfish damaged nets, rendered fish inedible with toxic stings and injured fishermen.
The first jellyfish have been reported off the coasts of Shimane, Kyoto and Niigata prefectures.
"We have reports of massive bloomings of young jellyfish near the Chinese coast, where the ecosystems of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are favorable for breeding," said Professor Shinichi Uye, a leading expert on the species at the Graduate School of Biosphere Science of Hiroshima University.
Relatively little is known about Nomura's jellyfish, such as why some years see thousands of the creatures floating across the Sea of Japan on the Tsushima Current, but last year there were virtually no sightings. In 2007, there were 15,500 reports of damage to fishing equipment caused by the creatures.
"It is possible that they have a 'rest stage' or hibernation period in their development over several years, but then their numbers shoot up given certain environmental stimuli," said Professor Uye.
But there are no explanations for why the jellyfish are becoming more regular visitors to Japan's shores, he said. In the early 1900s, for example, large numbers were only reported every 40 years or so.
One contributing factor may be a decline in the number of predators, which include sea turtles and certain species of fish. In addition, the creatures appear to favour warmer water and research suggests that the temperature of the East China Sea is 1 degree centigrade higher than last year.
That also helps the jellyfish grow so large, so quickly, Professor Uye believes. The creatures are extremely efficient at filtering zooplankton out of the water around them and while the jellyfish is healthy it devotes all its energies to eating. Only if it is injured or sick does it switch to producing offspring, he said
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YIKES!!!
 
Lively

Lively

Members
but, it's so pretty...

we're going to the Balt. Aquarium next week to see the jellyfish - i'm really excited about it
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
Lively said:
ROFL! Does anyone remember what show/episode the "pee on me" was? Was it Seinfeld? I remember it had me in stitches.
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I think it was Chandler or Joey peeing on Monica on Friends. Not sure which one did it. Freakin' hilarious.

The plots of those two shows sort of run together for me too. Both are awesome. :)
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
They totally run together for me... think it may have had something to do with the fact that they would do like 2-hour blocks on TBS of the shows back-to-back-to-back every day... with maybe a little Simpsons sprinkled in for flavor. :)
 
iamzrad

iamzrad

Members
A jelly fish sting hurts like hell. I got stung once by a small little fellow, hurt for a good week. Luckily I have no scars. But literally one of the worst pains ever.

I really want to go see the jellyfish exhibit, might have to take the girl with me. Slowly ween her to keep some fish lol!
 
Lively

Lively

Members
iamzrad said:
A jelly fish sting hurts like hell. I got stung once by a small little fellow, hurt for a good week. Luckily I have no scars. But literally one of the worst pains ever.

I really want to go see the jellyfish exhibit, might have to take the girl with me. Slowly ween her to keep some fish lol!
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I've been wanting to go since I heard about the exhibit! She may want to keep a SW after the aquarium - first time I went they had the sea horses - I'm still hankering for a sea horse tank and I mean to have one eventually!

Can't really do Friday after 5 - it's a 1 1/2 hour one way trip for us - and that'd be with reasonable traffic.
 
longstocking

longstocking

Members
We get stung by them all the time when diving...

We use lidocaine topical jell when it happens :) I'm not peeing on anyone and no one is peeing on me ! I'll take the pain !! :p
 
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