Worldwide temperature rise - Scientists caution about oceans teeming with jellyfish.
Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven investigated the impact of rising temperatures on eight common Arctic jellyfish species through computer simulations. The outcome found that seven of these species significantly expanded their habitat. Fire jellyfish, found in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, nearly tripled their area. This expansion, according to the experts, could have dire consequences for fish stocks.
Dmitrii Pantiukhin, a doctoral student from the ARJEL ("Arctic Jellies") research group at the AWI, which studies Arctic jellyfish, said, "Jellyfish are an essential part of the marine food web. If climate change puts pressure on marine life, jellyfish often have an edge over competitors like fish."
With potential repercussions: Many jellyfish eat fish larvae and eggs, preventing the growth and recovery of stressed fish populations. It's crucial to monitor jellyfish populations to maintain their role as a vital fish food source in the future. So far, jellyfish have been largely ignored in most studies and simulations.
In their analysis, the team used the "ssp370" climate scenario, which assumes moderate to high greenhouse gas emissions. AWI's ARJEL group leader, Charlotte Havermans, explained that both the surface area and water depth warming were considered to predict the distribution of these jellyfish species between 2050 and 2099.
The Arctic Ocean was selected as it's warming the quickest and contributes to 10% of global fishing yields. Of the eight jellyfish analyzed, five doubled their habitat while only one experienced a 15% reduction in territory.
ARJEL researcher Pantiukhin added, "The anticipated expansion could have severe and cascading effects on the entire food web." The scientists caution about the 'squeezing of the oceans.'
Addressing the squeezing
Havermans emphasized, "Our study is a fundamental foundation for more research. Fishery management plans must swiftly consider this development to avoid the collapse of overfished stocks."
The study was published in the journal "Limnology and Oceanography".
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Source: symclub.org
