[Cnidaria] FW: reasons for invasion of Pelagia noctiluca inNorthern Ireland / Scotland

[Doyle, Tom]

Hi Matthew,
 
Pelagia is more typical of warmer waters but does regularly occur in our waters during October-December when it is carried up here via the Jet Current (a current that runs up along the Bay of Biscay and off the west coast of Ireland). So its not unusual to see Pelagia at this time of the year, however, it is probably unusual to see such numbers and such widespread occurrence i.e. offshore, west + north coast of Ireland and now Scotland (do you know where in Scotland they are washing up?). How far they head north depends on the strength of the Jet current, which varies from year to year, and so is probably very strong this year. There are records of Pelagia washing up in large numbers off the coast of Ireland going back 100 years (Delap sisters), more recent reports off the west coast of Ireland (1998), and in 1966 (or around this year) enormous numbers were reported in the Irish Sea. Hope this helps,
 
All the best,
 
Tom.
 
Thomas K Doyle, PhD 
Coastal and Marine Resources Centre 
University College Cork 
Glucksman Marine Facility, Naval Base 
Haulbowline, Cobh 
County Cork 
Ireland 

Tel: 00353 21 4703119 
Fax: 00353 21 4703132 
Email: t.doyle at ucc.ie 

 
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: cnidaria-bounces at uci.edu [mailto:cnidaria-bounces at uci.edu]On Behalf Of Richard Lord
Sent: 25 November 2007 20:55
To: 'Cnidaria Newsgroup'
Subject: [Cnidaria] FW: reasons for invasion of Pelagia noctiluca inNorthern Ireland / Scotland



Mr. Matthew G. Longman sent me the email below and was happy for me to forward it to the cnidaria email list.  Would experts in scyphozoa blooms kindly offer explanations of why over the last few weeks immense numbers of small Pelagia noctiluca have invaded waters of Ireland and Northern Ireland and now the west coast of Scotland.  Is the November timing of the bloom unusual and particularly at this northern latitude?

 

Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Richard

Richard Lord

Guernsey GY1 1BQ

Great Britain

 

Tel: 01481 700688

Fax: 01481 700686

Email: fishinfo at guernsey.net 

http://www.sealordphotography.net <http://www.sealordphotography.net/>  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Longman [mailto:mlongman at csf.edu] 
Sent: 25 November 2007 02:54
To: fishinfo at guernsey.net
Subject: mauve rarity

 

 

Mr. Lord...

i am a student researching environmental rarities and i would like to know some things about the recent news concerning mauve stinger and compass jellyfish swarming around the British Isles.  The articles i have read pointed out that seeing these particular jellyfish in these areas is abnormal for winter months.  is there any reason particular why these jellyfish would be in this area in such numbers?  if you are unsure of any reasons, please refer me to someone who may know.  thank you.

sincerely, Matthew G. Longman. 

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