Sofia Martinez
Jellyfish are fascinating creatures that have learned to adapt and even benefit from the increasing plastic pollution in our oceans. While plastic pollution has detrimental effects on most marine life, jellyfish have been found to incorporate plastic into their diet and use it to their advantage during critical stages of their formation. This phenomenon has sparked interest in the scientific community, leading to innovative research and projects that aim to harness the unique abilities of jellyfish to combat the global issue of plastic pollution. Jellyfish mucus has been found to have absorbing properties that can effectively filter out microplastics from water, inspiring projects like GoJelly, which aims to implement jellyfish mucus filters on a large scale. Understanding the complex relationship between jellyfish and plastic pollution is crucial for developing effective solutions to protect our marine ecosystems and ensure the health and safety of all organisms, including humans, who may be impacted by plastic contamination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic's impact on jellyfish | Plastic provides a surface for jellyfish to attach to during their polyp phase, allowing them to thrive in deeper waters. |
| Jellyfish's impact on plastic | Jellyfish ingest plastic, which can lead to health issues and starvation. |
| Jellyfish as a solution to plastic pollution | Jellyfish mucus can absorb and filter out microplastics from water, offering a potential solution to plastic pollution in oceans. |
| Projects | GoJelly, an EU-funded project, aims to use jellyfish mucus to create filters for removing plastic particles from wastewater. |
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What You'll Learn
Jellyfish are attracted to plastic and eat it
Jellyfish are attracted to plastic and sometimes eat it. In 2016, a group of scientists on the Aquatilis Expedition in the Mediterranean Ocean found plastic trash trapped under the hoods or woven through the bodies of multiple mauve stingers. Four of the twenty jellyfish that were netted and inspected more closely had plastic in their digestive systems, leading scientists to believe that the jellyfish had mistaken the plastic for food.
One of the study's authors, Armando Macali, an ecologist from Tuscia University in Italy, said, "They are really in love with plastic, it seems." Macali and his fellow authors are convinced that the jellyfish were holding on to the plastic because they were trying to eat it. Past studies have shown that the accidental consumption of plastic debris by marine animals is widespread.
Scientists think that animals consume plastic because it resembles their prey. For example, turtles eat jellyfish-like plastic bags, and fish eat small rice-sized plastic that looks like their usual food. Ocean plastic can also smell appetizing to some marine creatures. A 2016 study in the journal Science Advances found that as algae grow on ocean plastic and the plastic breaks down, it emits an odor called dimethyl sulfide that attracts hungry animals.
The ingestion of plastic by jellyfish has dangerous health impacts. Mauve stingers can consume up to 50% of their body weight, and ingesting too much plastic causes animals to slowly starve. As prey for larger animals in the Mediterranean, plastic-laden jellyfish could harm the animals that consume them, including humans. Bluefin tuna, a common predator of the mauve stinger, is eaten by people and marine mammals, meaning the small microscopic pieces of plastic consumed by jellyfish may end up in the bellies of larger species.
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Plastic in the ocean helps jellyfish survive
While plastic pollution in the ocean is a significant environmental concern, it has inadvertently created conditions that have helped jellyfish thrive and expand their populations. Jellyfish have a complex life cycle, and during their early “polyp” phase, they must attach themselves to a surface or "substrate" to grow. In natural circumstances, these polyps settle on the ocean floor. However, with the presence of plastics in the ocean, jellyfish now have additional materials to attach to. This has allowed jellyfish to thrive in deeper waters, no longer restricted to coastlines or enduring great depths to find a suitable substrate.
The abundance of plastic in the ocean has also provided a food source for jellyfish. In a study conducted in the Mediterranean Ocean in 2016, scientists found that multiple mauve stingers had various types of plastic trash trapped under their hoods or woven through their bodies. Upon closer inspection, four out of twenty stingers had plastic in their digestive systems, indicating they had mistaken the plastic for food. This behaviour can have detrimental health impacts on the jellyfish, as ingesting too much plastic can lead to starvation.
Ironically, jellyfish and their unique mucus may also provide a solution to the very problem of plastic pollution. The GoJelly project, funded by the European Union, aims to harness the absorbing properties of jellyfish mucus to filter out microplastics from the ocean. These microscopic plastic particles are not effectively removed by current wastewater treatment methods and can enter our ecosystems, posing risks to human health. Lab tests have shown that jellyfish mucus can efficiently capture and bind microplastics, demonstrating nearly 100% efficiency in binding the smallest particles. The project also explores ways to utilise the rest of the jellyfish biomass, such as for human food, aquaculture feed, fertiliser, or cosmetic product development.
In summary, while plastic pollution poses threats to most marine life, jellyfish have uniquely benefited from its presence in terms of both substrate availability and food sources. Additionally, the presence of plastic pollution has contributed to environmental conditions that favour jellyfish expansion. However, the negative consequences of plastic ingestion by jellyfish can also impact the larger species that prey on them, including humans. Therefore, addressing plastic pollution is crucial, and the GoJelly project showcases an innovative approach to tackling this global issue while exploring sustainable uses for jellyfish.
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Plastic waste can get stuck in jellyfish
Plastic waste in the ocean poses a significant threat to marine life, and jellyfish are no exception. While jellyfish are able to survive and even thrive in environments affected by climate change and pollution, they are still vulnerable to the direct and indirect impacts of plastic pollution.
One of the most direct ways plastic waste can affect jellyfish is by becoming physically stuck on or in them. In 2016, scientists with the Aquatilis Expedition found plastic trash trapped under the hoods or woven through the bodies of mauve stingers, a type of jellyfish. Upon further inspection, they discovered that four out of twenty stingers had plastic in their digestive systems, indicating that the jellyfish had mistaken the plastic for food. This is supported by the fact that jellyfish produce copious amounts of mucus, which has been shown to efficiently sequester and bind microplastics.
The ingestion of plastic by jellyfish can have detrimental effects on their health. Ingesting too much plastic can cause animals to slowly starve, as their stomachs become filled with debris. As prey species for larger animals, plastic-laden jellyfish can also pose risks to the health of the animals that consume them, including humans. This can result in the transfer of microscopic plastic particles up the food chain, affecting larger species.
In addition to the direct impacts of plastic ingestion, the presence of plastic waste in the ocean can also create an ideal environment for jellyfish to thrive. Jellyfish have a complex lifecycle, and during their early polyp phase, they must attach themselves to a surface or "substrate" to grow. Usually, these polyps settle on the ocean floor. However, with the infiltration of man-made surfaces like plastics, jellyfish can attach to these foreign materials and expand their range into deeper waters. This can lead to an increase in jellyfish populations, contributing to their overpopulation in certain areas.
While jellyfish may be indirectly benefiting from the presence of plastic waste, it is important to note that this can have ecosystem-wide consequences. The overpopulation of jellyfish can disrupt the balance of marine ecosystems and negatively impact other species. Therefore, it is crucial to address the issue of plastic pollution and find innovative solutions, such as the GoJelly project, which aims to use jellyfish mucus to filter out microplastics and reduce plastic pollution's impact on jellyfish and the marine environment.
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Jellyfish mucus can filter microplastics from water
Jellyfish are negatively affected by plastic pollution in the world's oceans. A 2016 study found plastic trash trapped under the hoods or woven through the bodies of mauve stingers, with plastic even found in their digestive systems. This is a result of the jellyfish mistaking plastic for food.
However, jellyfish mucus has been found to have an absorbing property that can catch microplastics present in water. Microplastics are plastic particles of less than 1mm in size, which are produced industrially or break down from larger plastic items. They are often eaten by marine organisms, which can cause them to slowly starve, and they can end up in the bellies of larger species, including humans.
The GoJelly project, funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Innovation and Research Programme, aims to use this absorbing property of jellyfish mucus to create filters to remove plastic particles from wastewater before it reaches the ocean. The mucus is freeze-dried and inserted into a cylinder-shaped filtering device, where it has been shown to be nearly 100% efficient in binding the smallest particles.
The project also aims to find other sustainable uses for jellyfish, such as using them as fish feed in aquaculture, as agricultural fertilizers, or for the extraction of collagen for cosmetic products.
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Reducing plastic use may reduce jellyfish stings
While jellyfish are often feared for their stings, they are incredibly important to the marine ecosystem. However, the increasing presence of plastics in the ocean poses a threat to these creatures. The good news is that reducing plastic use and improving waste management can help protect jellyfish and reduce the risk of stings.
Jellyfish are known to ingest plastic, mistaking it for food. This can lead to health issues and even death. By reducing plastic waste, we can decrease the amount of plastic in the ocean, lowering the risk of jellyfish ingesting it. Additionally, we can explore alternative materials and work with manufacturers to create plastic that is less attractive to marine life, including jellyfish.
Plastic pollution also provides new surfaces for jellyfish to attach to during their life cycle. Jellyfish polyps typically attach to the ocean floor, but with plastics in the water, they can attach to these foreign surfaces. This allows jellyfish to thrive in deeper waters, no longer restricted to coastlines. By reducing plastic pollution, we can limit the number of artificial surfaces available to jellyfish, potentially reducing their population density in certain areas.
The GoJelly project, funded by the European Union, aims to address both plastic pollution and jellyfish overpopulation. The project utilizes jellyfish mucus to create filters that can remove microplastics from wastewater before it reaches the ocean. These filters have been shown to be highly effective in lab-based trials. By supporting such initiatives and investing in innovative solutions, we can make significant progress in tackling plastic pollution and its impact on jellyfish populations.
In conclusion, reducing plastic use and improving waste management strategies can play a crucial role in protecting jellyfish and, consequently, reducing the occurrence of jellyfish stings. By minimizing plastic waste, we not only safeguard the marine ecosystem but also enhance our own safety when engaging in water-related activities. Reducing plastic use may save your skin from jellyfish larvae and the annoying itchy feeling that comes with it.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution in the ocean has created an ideal environment for jellyfish to thrive in. This has resulted in an increase in jellyfish population.
Jellyfish larvae attach themselves to a surface or "substrate" to grow. As plastics infiltrate the seas, jellyfish have more surfaces to attach to. This allows jellyfish to thrive in deeper water.
Plastic debris in the ocean can be consumed by jellyfish. This can lead to health issues and starvation.
Jellyfish mucus can be used to filter microplastics from the ocean. The GoJelly project aims to use this method to tackle plastic pollution and marine litter.
The GoJelly project is an EU-funded initiative that targets microplastic pollution and jellyfish overpopulation. The project aims to harvest jellyfish mucus to create filters that can remove plastic particles from wastewater.
