Jellyfish Gone Wild ...

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/nsf-jellyfish.php

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/nsf-jellyfish.php

The Japanese had a harrowing experience in the summer of 2005 when almost 500 million jellyfish—each weighing around 450 pounds—took up residence in the Sea of Japan on a daily basis.

A 450 pound jellyfish!??!?

That's like 7 cubic feet!

Those jellies in the top pictures.....they're the exact same ones I've seen in profusion many many times at Tomeles Bay.

One of the things that mystifies me is that Jelly fish are carniverous; their entire diet is of small fish, which equals protein and fat.

Yet jellyfish are not themselves known to be a source of protein or fat, anecdotal reports are that only about one species of fish regularly eats them, they're translucent and appear to be almost all water.....

I mean....here's a predator that eats fish.....yet develops no conventional muscle or fat tissues......

It's a thing that seems to defy most conventional assumptions.

Judd

Those jellies in the top pictures.....they're the exact same ones I've seen in profusion many many times at Tomeles Bay.

One of the things that mystifies me is that Jelly fish are carniverous; their entire diet is of small fish, which equals protein and fat.

Yet jellyfish are not themselves known to be a source of protein or fat, anecdotal reports are that only about one species of fish regularly eats them, they're translucent and appear to be almost all water.....

I mean....here's a predator that eats fish.....yet develops no conventional muscle or fat tissues......

It's a thing that seems to defy most conventional assumptions.

Judd

jellies around here eat plankton

Jellyfish contain both proteins and lipids.  A diet of small fish and plankton provides proteins and fats, which are broken down into fatty acids and amino acids by the jellyfish. It turns these raw materials into unique jellyfish proteins and lipids. Jellyfish magic, it is.

Those jellies in the top pictures.....they're the exact same ones I've seen in profusion many many times at Tomeles Bay.

One of the things that mystifies me is that Jelly fish are carniverous; their entire diet is of small fish, which equals protein and fat.

Yet jellyfish are not themselves known to be a source of protein or fat, anecdotal reports are that only about one species of fish regularly eats them, they're translucent and appear to be almost all water.....

I mean....here's a predator that eats fish.....yet develops no conventional muscle or fat tissues......

It's a thing that seems to defy most conventional assumptions.

Judd

Whew, for a minute there  I thought I was going to see pictures of Chris "Jellyfish" White at spring break.  I guess we're still a few years away for that.

Those jellies in the top pictures.....they're the exact same ones I've seen in profusion many many times at Tomeles Bay.

One of the things that mystifies me is that Jelly fish are carniverous; their entire diet is of small fish, which equals protein and fat.

Yet jellyfish are not themselves known to be a source of protein or fat, anecdotal reports are that only about one species of fish regularly eats them, they're translucent and appear to be almost all water.....

I mean....here's a predator that eats fish.....yet develops no conventional muscle or fat tissues......

It's a thing that seems to defy most conventional assumptions.

Judd

As stated by others, jellyfish eat a whole lot more than just small fish.

And ... at least 2 species of fish eat jellyfish as a large part of their diet.  Mola mola and spadefish.  As do leatherback turtles.

-Allen

Whew, for a minute there  I thought I was going to see pictures of Chris "Jellyfish" White at spring break.  I guess we're still a few years away for that.

Ditto!  Although I doubt we'll have to wait long.

Here's a theoretical question:

Suppose you were marooned on a raft at high sea.....like Tom Hanks in that really neat film CASTAWAY.......

And suppose there were jellies all around you....

Could you rehydrate yourself by heating the caps?

Judd

Go to any 10 course chinese banquet dinner.  If a cold-cut appetizer is served, chances are its got jellyfish slivers among cured headcheese and seaweed. 

And no, eating it won't hydrate you.  I get thirsty as a muthascratcher after I eat chinese.   

"Blue Rose Petals"

A few years ago the Sonoma Coast was covered with small jelly fish that looked like blue rose petals. For some reason I keep thinking that they have "sail" in their name.

Anyway, one of the folks on PFIC that fishes up in Humbolt Bay catches a lot of blue and black rockfish from the jettys up there. He said that one time when cleaning a few RF that he kept that they were loaded with those little jellies.

Dustin,

I think you're refering to "By the wind sailors" (Velella velella) when you talk about "blue rose petals".  They show up on the coast every so often during relaxation events that follow strong periods of upwelling.

http://jellieszone.com/velella.htm

I think you're refering to "By the wind sailors" (Velella velella) when you talk about "blue rose petals". 

SO that's what they are. Morro Bay was choked with those things a couple of years ago.

Dustin,

I think you're refering to "By the wind sailors" (Velella velella) when you talk about "blue rose petals".  They show up on the coast every so often during relaxation events that follow strong periods of upwelling.

http://jellieszone.com/velella.htm

Yup. That be them. Thanks, Brian.

When my youngest daughter was 7 we were at Rodeo Beach at Ft. Cronkite just N. of Bonita Pt. Lighthouse at a time when the beach was absolutely littered by the little blue sailor jellies.......and she, playing in the sand, came up with a major welt on her thigh.   Impossible to say whether it came from one of those guys, or another "invisible" jelly that had washed in with them.

Judd