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2024-04-05 21:26:44
Three weeks ago, another dangerous species of animals living in the marine environment, unusual in this part of the world, appeared off the coast of Greece. Since mid-March, a swarm of tropical migratory jellyfish, Rhopilema nomadica , numbering approximately 100-200 individuals has been observed at the bathing areas on the island of Rhodes. The wandering jellyfish is another species, after the hare fish Lagocephalus sceleratus and the luminous jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca , that may cause big problems for Greece. The European Union has identified Rhopilema nomadica as one of the worst invasive marine species in European waters.
Wandering jellyfish , © Rafi Amar, CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED
The jellyfish Rhopilema nomadica previously occurred naturally in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. However, in the 1970s, it made its way through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea. Initially, for a long time it inhabited only the south-eastern part of this sea in the region of Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Syria. Therefore, its appearance in Greek waters is an unprecedented situation that raises great concern among Greek experts. They emphasize that the spread of this species is the result of the significantly increased water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea recorded last year. According to scientists, the rising sea temperature creates favorable conditions for the development of these jellyfish. They also emphasize that there are many indications that currently this species is able to survive even the winter temperatures prevailing in this reservoir.
However, a warmer sea is not the only reason for the appearance of invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea, such as the migratory jellyfish, the hare fish or glowing jellyfish mentioned at the beginning.
Bell Galil, a marine biologist at the Israel National Institute of Oceanography, believes the problem has worsened with the recently completed widening of the Suez Canal. This artificial connector of the two seas created by humans has now become a kind of one-way highway for such species. The existing Canal had its natural obstacles - lakes with increased salinity, which prevented most marine organisms from reaching the Mediterranean Sea. However, during the widening and deepening of the canal, these natural barriers were partially eliminated. Unfortunately, this has made it easier for various marine species to move from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. Unfortunately, invasive species in a new ecosystem quickly take over and replace native marine life.
So far, in the Mediterranean basin, Israel is experiencing the greatest losses and difficulties caused by huge swarms of this jellyfish. In 2011 and 2017, the invasion of Rhopilema nomadica seriously threatened the Hadera power plant. Then, for many days, thousands of jellyfish clogged the filters of the cooling system of the power plant, which uses sea water for its processes. To prevent paralysis of electricity supplies, workers cleaned the filters all day long, removing tons of jellyfish from them. Under normal conditions, such filters are typically cleaned twice a day. The Israeli Ministry of the Environment even gave permission to the power plant's management to export the caught jellyfish directly to landfills.
Unfortunately, this was not a one-time incident. Migratory jellyfish continue to cause problems for Israel's five seawater-cooled power plants built on the Mediterranean Sea.
Jellyfish removed from cooling water filters at the Hadera power plant, June 27, 2017
Photo source www.haaretz.com
In addition to the above problems, huge numbers of these animals were also washed up on the beaches, and swarms of jellyfish swimming in the sea caused a plague of very painful burns and wounds among bathers. An encounter with a wandering jellyfish is very unpleasant. Contact of jellyfish tentacles with human skin causes intense pain, burning, itching and irritation.
Problems with jellyfish on beaches caused very real financial losses for Israel at that time. Due to the presence of these animals, tourists began to avoid relaxing on recreational beaches, which ultimately contributed to an estimated loss of $6 million.
According to Stelios Katsanevakis, a Greek professor at the Department of Oceanography and Marine Biosciences, very large concentrations of nomadic jellyfish still occur off the coast of Israel. Unfortunately, this situation means that many of the local bathing areas are closed to the public. The biggest problem usually occurs in June and July as the water reaches the perfect temperature for jellyfish to swarm. Unfortunately, this coincides with the holiday season, when there are most tourists.
Migratory jellyfish also cause problems when fishing, as fishing nets are filled with huge numbers of these animals. Additionally, in nets where jellyfish come into direct contact with fish, the venom produced by the jellyfish is released, which is why the caught fish are considered unfit for sale.
Professor Katsanevakis believes that the population of this species is expected to increase in the area of Greek waters, which will cause a problem for the tourism sector in the future. It is therefore necessary to take the necessary steps as soon as possible to protect people bathing in the sea from burns.
Jellyfish of the species Rhopilema nomadica grow up to 10 kg, and their external bell diameter is usually between 40 and 60 cm. There are also individuals with the size of a bell, up to 90 cm. Finally, it is worth mentioning that her body is light blue.
2024-04-05 21:26:44
Komentarze
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Dziękujemy za ciekawy artykuł .
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Będziemy musieli uważać
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Takich było sporo pod koniec marca w Turcji a w końcu Rodos niedaleko
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Joanna Siudy Potrafią bardzo dotkliwie poparzyć. Do tego te meduzy są duże więc poparzona powierzchnia skory też jest duża.
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CRETE - Kreta no sporawe były... I duży wysyp.
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CRETE - Kreta czy one są bardzo niebezpieczne?
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Sylwia Koligat Spore są, to mogą być te meduzy.
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Sylwia Koligat My na koniec maja lecimy do Turcji z dziećmi oby nie było takiego problemu
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Sylwia Koligat my widzielismy parę takich martwych na Sycylii w zeszłym roku.
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Sylwia Koligat
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Sylwia Koligat olbrzymie
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Sylwia Koligat Wygląda na ten gatunek, jakiej wielkości był ten okaz? Niestety Turcja jest jednym z krajów przy których występują te meduzy.
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Czy można je grillować ?
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Jot Kaa :)
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Magdalena Błaszczyk
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