Jellyfish may dominate the future Arctic Ocean

Climate change is putting countless marine organisms under pressure. However, jellyfish in the world’s oceans could actually benefit from the rising water temperatures – also and especially in the Arctic Ocean. In computer models, they exposed eight widespread Arctic jellyfish species to rising temperatures. The result: by the second half of this century, all but one of the species in question could substantially expand their habitat poleward. The ‘lion’s mane jellyfish’ could even triple the size of its habitat – with potentially dramatic consequences for the marine food web and Arctic fish populations. The study was just released in the journal Limnology and Oceanography.

Quelle: IDW Informationsdienst Wissenschaft