Jellyfish ecology
Researchers will analyze the ecosystem impacts of jellyfish in Puget Sound using mesocosm experiments, monitoring, and ecosystem modeling.
Julie Keister, University of Washington, School of Oceanography
Correigh Greene, NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Isaac Kaplan, NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Hem Nalini Morzaria-Luna, Long Live the Kings
Kathryn Sobocinski, Long Live the Kings
Researchers are taking a multipronged approach to study moon jelly (Aurelia labiata) aggregations in Puget Sound. Jellyfish compete for the same prey as important finfish like Pacific salmon and herring, so it is important to understand how they affect bottom-up ecological processes. The researchers will use field-based and experimental methods to measure the effects of jellyfish on biological, chemical and physical water quality characteristics as well as their distribution and abundance in the water column. This data will be used to enhance the Atlantis Model for Puget Sound, and the research team will use the model to gain insight into the effect of jellyfish abundance on Puget Sound ecology.