Jellyfish and ctenophore blooms coincide with human proliferations and environmental perturbations
In: Carlson, C.A.; Giovannoni, S.J. (Ed.) (2012). Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci. 4. Annual Review of Marine Science, 4. Annual Reviews: Palo Alto. ISBN 978-0-8243-4504-4. 542 pp., more In: Annual Review of Marine Science. Annual Reviews: Palo Alto, Calif. ISSN 1941-1405; e-ISSN 1941-0611, more |  |
| Keyword | | | Author keywords | climate change, nonindigenous species, fishing, aquaculture, shipping, outbreak |
| Abstract | Human populations have been concentrated along and exploiting the coastal zones for millennia. Of regions with the highest human impacts on the oceans (Halpern et al. 2008), 6 of the top 10 have recently experienced blooms or problems with jellies. I review the time lines of human population growth and their effects on the coastal environment. I explore evidence suggesting that human activities - specifically, seafood harvest, eutrophication, hard substrate additions, transport of nonindigenous species, aquaculture, and climate change - may benefit jelly populations. Direct evidence is lacking for most of these factors; however, numerous correlations show abundant jellies in areas with warm temperatures and low forage fish populations. Jelly populations fluctuate in 10- and 20-year cycles in concert with solar and climate cycles. Global warming will provide a rising baseline against which climate cycles will cause fluctuations in jelly populations. The probable acceleration of anthropogenic effects may lead to further problems with jellies. |
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