As they drift through ocean currents, jellyfish serve as both shelter and guardians for certain juvenile fish species, allowing them to evade predators.
Small fish often find refuge beneath the jellyfish, swimming alongside them and utilizing their movements as a form of camouflage during their travels, providing a safe passage through the sea.
In addition to protection, jellyfish offer feeding opportunities for these young fish. They can feed on tiny organisms that accumulate on the jellyfish or prey that has been stunned by the jellyfish during its movements.
By offering both food and shelter, jellyfish play a crucial role in the survival and growth of various fish species, including commercially important ones like the whiting in the North Sea. This relationship not only aids in the growth of fish populations but also contributes to maintaining a diverse and robust marine ecosystem.
1. Sustaining Oceanic Food Chains
Jellyfish are crucial to numerous marine food chains. By consuming small creatures like fish larvae and eggs, they play a significant role in controlling population levels and maintaining ecological balance in the oceans. Jellyfish are not only predators but also prey—larger species such as the Lion’s Mane jellyfish often consume smaller Moon jellyfish, which can be seen entangled in their tentacles.
2. Prey for Marine Predators
Jellyfish form a substantial part of the diet of various marine animals, including sunfish, spade-fish, large crustaceans, and marine turtles. Leather-back turtles, for instance, rely heavily on jellyfish, particularly the Lion’s Mane, and migrate to UK waters in summer to feast on jellyfish blooms, underscoring their importance in marine survival.
3. Continued Ecological Contributions
Even post-mortem, jellyfish contribute to the oceanic ecosystem, providing nourishment for deep-sea species like hagfish that consume their remains on the ocean floor.
4. Facilitating Nutrient Distribution
As they migrate through different ocean layers, jellyfish assist in the distribution of essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. These nutrients are vital for the growth and survival of other marine organisms, including phytoplankton. Research shows that jellyfish excretion alone can supply over 10% of the nitrogen and nearly a quarter of the phosphate needed by phytoplankton.
5. Jellyfish as Bio-indicators
Monitoring jellyfish populations helps assess the health of marine environments. Our annual reports on jellyfish sightings along our coasts are crucial for advocating effective marine management and protection strategies. If you spot a jellyfish, remember to record your sighting to aid in our conservation efforts.
Jellyfish 101 | Nat Geo Wild
Video by Nat Geo Animals
