With increasing human activity in the marine environment, encounters with jellyfish are expected to become more frequent. Despite their potential harm to human health and the economy, there is a lack of knowledge regarding their population dynamics. In an effort to better understand their biogeographical patterns and minimize their impact, we have developed MedusApp - a citizen science tool designed for collecting data on jellyfish sightings in the Spanish Mediterranean. During the period spanning from 2018 to 2021, <em>Pelagia noctiluca</em>, <em>Rhizostoma pulmo</em>, <em>Cotylorhiza tuberculata</em>, and <em>Rhizostoma luteum</em> were the most frequently observed jellyfish species. While sightings of all four species increased during this time, from 62,828 to 85,600 sightings, the Jellyfish Intensity (JI) index did not show a significant overall rise in their abundance. Additionally, the seasonality of these species remained consistent, offering a foundation for the development of efficient management strategies over time. Furthermore, new evidence has emerged that <em>R. luteum</em> is extending its range northward in the Western Mediterranean up to the Balearic islands, and becoming a commonly observed species on the Spanish coastline. The data obtained from MedusApp can be utilized to enhance jellyfish management measures, like monitoring, control, and alert systems, with the goal of minimizing jellyfish conflicts with humans and the environment.
Primary Presenter: John Dobson, University of Alicante (johnyanezdob@gmail.com)
Authors:
John Dobson, University of Alicante (johnyanezdob@gmail.com)
Eva Fonfría, Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (IMEM) “Ramon Margalef (evafonfria@gmail.com)
Ramon Palacios, Polytechnic University of Valencia (rapasae@upvnet.upv.es)
Eduardo Blasco, Polytechnic University of Valencia (edblata@upvnet.upv.es)
Cesar Bordehore, University of Alicante (cesar.bordehore@ua.es)
MONITORING THE BIOGEOGRAPHIC AND PHENOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF JELLYFISH ALONG THE SPANISH COAST THROUGH CITIZEN SCIENCE
Category
Scientific Sessions > SS056 Jellyfish in the Changing Ocean
Description
Time: 06:30 PM
Date: 7/6/2023
Room: Mezzanine