The Jellyfish Dystopia Essay examples -- Animal Research Conservation

Earth’s environment is a complex construction with multiple parts that are all important to its success. Even creatures like jellyfish cannot be ignored when considering this delicate construction. Through both ecosystem modification and additions, human environmental manipulation humans are creating favorable conditions for jellyfish and their subsequent population explosions. The effects of these large populations have a myriad of negative physical and economic effects on humans. If we wish to avoid our eventual jellyfish dystopia, we must take preventative actions. The modification of the environment by humans is the first factor that has begun to promote the jellyfish dystopia. As humans change the environment, conditions are beginning to favor jellyfish. In an environment that largely favors them, a population explosion and accompanying jellyfish dystopia is inevitable. These population explosions are a great leap toward the jellyfish dystopia. Throughout the marine environment, humans have begun overfishing in multiple marine environments. This opens niches in the oceanic food webs. These niches, or spaces in the food webs, result from the removal of predators that would previously control the jellyfish population (Stone). In the absence of their predators, the jellyfish population is free to expand and forms blooms, or large jellyfish populations. The jellyfish themselves then prevent the native fish population from rebounding by feeding on the fish eggs (Stone). Humans proceed to fish in these areas again, and the jellyfish predation dec reases to a greater degree. Humans also improve conditions for jellyfish as we allow pollution levels to rise. Devices like cars are contributors to the carbon dioxide levels. As the CO2... ...s for them and degrading our own situation. If we do not strive to control these various lashing tentacles of the jellyfish dystopia, we will be killed in its powerful grasp. Works Cited Blomberg, Lindsey. "The Great Jellyfish Invasion." E: The Environmental Magazine 23.1 (2012): 16-17. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 May 2012. Pauly, Daniel. "Aquacalypse Now." The New Republic. Mike Rancilio, 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 01 May 2012. Tucker, Abigail. "The New King Of The Sea." Smithsonian 41.4 (2010): 26-37. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 May 2012. Stone, Richard. "Massive Outbreak of Jellyfish Could Spell Trouble for Fisheries." Yale Environment 360. Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 13 Jan. 2011. Web. 01 May 2012. Vince, Gaia. "Jellyfish Blooms Creating Oceans of Slime." BBC.com. British Broadcasting Company, 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 1 May 2012.