A sharp rise in the number of polyps — androgynous beings that later strobilate, or divide, to develop into jellyfish — in the seas of Kenting’s (墾丁) Houwan (後灣) area could signify an imminent “jellyfish boom” and, potentially, a summer of more severe typhoons, a researcher at an aquarium said.
There are two possible causes for a jelly boom, Hsieh Hung-yan (謝泓諺) said.
First, human pollutants are washed into the ocean via streams, bringing an inordinate amount of salt nutrients along the way and spurring the growth of plankton, which feeds on the salt. In turn, jellies, which feed on plankton, proliferate as well, Hsieh said.
Second, the boom could be a product of warming oceans. Sea water temperatures have been rising around the world, providing a friendly environment for the growth of jellyfish, as polyps develop into jellies sooner, he said.
By comparing the number of polyps in Houwan during summertime and wintertime, Hsieh said it was evident that jellyfish prefer warm conditions.
With local sea water temperatures already higher than the years when the El Nino weather pattern was rife, Hsieh said it is almost a certainty that jellyfish booms are directly related to the occurrence of El Nino.
In addition to disrupting the movement of fish and wreaking havoc on corals, El Nino also brings more typhoons to the Pacific Ocean.
The aquarium fears that there could be a severe El Nino this summer, leading to super typhoons.
The Central Weather Bureau confirmed that sea water temperatures off Central America rose further early this year, but added that Taiwan is on the periphery of the area affected by El Nino. Therefore, even if El Nino strikes this year, it is uncertain what effect it will have on Taiwan’s weather.
According to weather bureau records, in an El Nino year, sea water temperatures rose in the equatorial eastern Pacific and the open seas of South America. More typhoons also developed during summer.
Although these typhoons usually trace paths farther away from Taiwan, they cause more damage once they make land.
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