Jellyfish Blooms

About this book

Jellyfish are one of the most conspicuous animals in our oceans and are renowned for their propensity to form spectacular blooms. The unique features of the biology and ecology of jellyfish that enable them to bloom also make them successful invasive species and, in a few places around the world, jellyfish have become problematic. As man increasingly populates the world's coastlines, interactions between humans and jellyfish are rising, often to the detriment of coastal-based industries such as tourism, fishing and power generation.

However we must not lose sight of the fact that jellyfish have been forming blooms in the oceans for at least 500 million years, and are an essential component of normal, healthy ocean ecosystems. In Jellyfish Blooms many of the world's leading jellyfish experts explore the science behind jellyfish blooms. The authors examine the unique features of jellyfish biology and ecology that cause populations to 'bloom and bust', and, using case studies, they show why jellyfish are important to coastal and ocean ecosystem function.

The authors outline strategies coastal managers can use to mitigate the effects of blooms on coastal industries thereby enabling humans to coexist with these fascinating creatures. Finally Jellyfish Blooms highlights how jellyfish benefit society; providing us with food and one of the most biomedically-important compounds discovered in the 20th century.

Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. What are jellyfish and thaliaceans and why do they bloom?

Part I Ecology of jellyfish blooms
Chapter 3. What are jellyfish and thaliaceans and why do they bloom?
Chapter 3. Nonindigenous marine jellyfish: invasiveness, invasibility and impacts
Chapter 4. Bloom and bust: why do blooms of jellyfish collapse?
Chapter 5. Ecological and societal benefits of jellyfish
Chapter 6. Living with jellyfish: management and adaptation strategies

Part II Case studies
Chapter 7 Population fluctuations of jellyfish in the Bering Sea and their ecological role in this productive shelf ecosystem
Chapter 8. The giant jellyfish Nemopile manomurai in East Asian marginal seas
Chapter 9. Contrasting trends in populations of Rhopilema esculentum and Aurelia aurita in Chinese waters
Chapter 10. Chrysaora plocamia: A poorly understood jellyfish from South America
Chapter 11. Pelagia noctiluca in the Mediterranean Sea
Chapter 12. The ecology of Box jellyfish (Cubozoa)

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