Stung! On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean: On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean
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- Synopsis
- Our oceans are becoming increasingly inhospitable to lifeOCogrowing toxicity and rising temperatures coupled with overfishing have led many marine species to the brink of collapse. And yet there is one creature that is thriving in this seasick environment: the beautiful, dangerous, and now incredibly numerous jellyfish. As foremost jellyfish expert Lisa-ann Gershwin describes in "Stung , "the jellyfish population bloom is highly indicative of the tragic state of the worldOCOs ocean waters, while also revealing the incredible tenacity of these remarkable creatures. aRecent documentaries about swarms of giant jellyfish invading Japanese fishing grounds and summertime headlines about armadas of stinging jellyfish in the Mediterranean and Chesapeake are only the beginningOCojellyfish are truly taking over the oceans. Despite their often dazzling appearance, jellyfish are simple creatures with simple needs: namely, fewer predators and competitors, warmer waters to encourage rapid growth, and more places for their larvae to settle and grow. In general, oceans that are less favorable to fish are more favorable to jellyfish, and these are the very conditions that we are creating through mechanized trawling, habitat degradation, coastal construction, pollution, and climate change. aDespite their role as harbingers of marine destruction, jellyfish are truly enthralling creatures in their own right, and in "Stung ," Gershwin tells stories of jellyfish both attractive and deadly while illuminating many interesting and unusual facts about their behaviors and environmental adaptations. She takes readers back to the Proterozoic era, when jellyfish were the top predator in the marine ecosystemOCoat a time when there were no fish, no mammals, and no turtles; and she explores the role jellies have as middlemen of destruction, moving swiftly into vulnerable ecosystems. The story of the jellyfish, as Gershwin makes clear, is also the story of the worldOCOs oceans, and "Stung "provides a unique and urgent look at their inseparable historiesOCoand future.
- Copyright:
- 2013
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Publisher Quality
- Book Size:
- 384 Pages
- ISBN-13:
- 9780226020242
- Related ISBNs:
- 9780226020105
- Publisher:
- The University of Chicago Press
- Date of Addition:
- 08/18/23
- Copyrighted By:
- Lisa-Ann Gershwin
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Nonfiction, Science, Animals
- Submitted By:
- Bookshare Staff
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.
- Foreword by:
- Sylvia Earle