Jellyfish Gone Wild — Text-only | Flash Special Report
Locations

From Australia’s swarms of potentially deadly, fingernail-sized jellyfish to Japan’s swarms of 450-pounders, each region’s jellyfish swarms are distinct--varying in species composition, timing, size and consequences. Why these differences?

From Australia’s swarms of potentially deadly, fingernail-sized jellyfish to Japan’s swarms of 450-pounders, each region’s jellyfish swarms are distinct--varying in species composition, timing, size and consequences. Why these differences? Because each region’s jellyfish populations reflect local ecology and, in many cases, local environmental stresses.

But, despite regional differences among jellyfish populations, the global influence of jellyfish on marine ecology warns all of us: Ask not for whom the jellyfish’s bell tolls; it tolls for thee…

At any particular time, large jellyfish populations may be found in any number of worldwide locations.  This map flags areas where scientists and/or the press have recently reported major increases in jellyfish populations.