New Threat To The World

Japanese fisherman with net full of jellyfish.

Maybe not many of us ever expected that the biggest threat will come from one of the most gentle creature without brain against human, whether we believe it or not, these notorious stinging creatures getting larger and larger in number every year and causing lots of damages in various ways. Sure we all know that human are the causes of this blooming jellyfish, but here we want to see what are the threat and what should we do.

The increasing of jellyfish population occurred much frequent over the pas few years and threatens other marine life populations that become the source of income for human. The fisherman in Southern Japan and South Korean are among fisherman affected badly by these jellyfish. When there are jellyfish in the net, all the fishes inside it are no longer suitable for human consumption. Anyway you can see how many jellyfish were caught in the picture above. So Japanese government keep on trying to improve the situation to help the fisherman.

Large number of jellyfish can cause many devastation in human activities.

Moon jellyfish that cause the closure of reactor in Sweden.

Box-jellyfish, one of the most venomous.

That’s only one part of the invasion problems. Some jellyfish equipped together with powerful stinger that can cause death when contact with human. These jellyfish are mostly transparent and some of them are very small to identify by swimmers. Even though not all jellyfish are harmful most of them still can cause painful stings.

One of the most dangerous jellyfish also known as box jellyfish is very small can cause death in short period of time. Box jellyfish native to Australia now had spread in many other areas in the world. These are the areas where human enjoying the beaches with their family and relatives. All we need to know jellyfish has nothing to do with human as we are not their source of foods.

Jellyfish life cycle.

Non stinger jellyfish.

There area many other species of jellyfish in the world.

In bigger scale jellyfish threat get more serious when few incidents had caused interruption in human activities. The closures of nuclear plants or power reactors caused by jellyfish invasion become more frequent all over the years. Some of the incidents include; Australia (937), Madras (1989), Philippines (1999), US Navy warships (2006), Scotland; Japan; Israel (2011) and also in Sweden (2013).

Throughout the world, scientists are trying to understand more about jellyfish not just to find an antidote for their stinger but also to learn how they grows in such large numbers. Jellyfish have different life cycle than from any other creatures. Jellyfish can stay in polyps’ stage for long time before producing the medusa (as the jellyfish that we know). So what triggering the production of the medusa and why it happens more often?

Purple-stripped jellyfish at Monterey Bay Aquarium that also studying on jellyfish,

Sea nettle jellyfish also in aquarium.

With the changes of environment caused by human activities that caused the alteration of marine population has resulted the blooming of jellyfish. The over-fishing, habitat destruction, pollution and many other activities had killed most of the creatures that prey on jellyfish. They are few other factors that increase the numbers of jellyfish, anyway if they have no prey anymore - their numbers will only get bigger.

It’s not hard to tell when the equilibrium of nature had been interrupted it will caused catastrophe. It will keep on going until the equilibrium comes to normal again. In this case, if we never restored the balance of nature - we will see some new species!

The Unique Life of Coconut Crab

Coconut Crab size can reach up to 1 meter.

Coconut crab (Cancer crumentus) also known as coconut thief, not living in the sea as well as red crabs, but live near the beach to make sure it is not too far from the source of water - the sea.

Coconut crabs are of the same type of a hermit crab where during young its needs other protection such as snails shells to keep them from being eaten by other predators. This is because the adult female crabs will release the eggs on the beach and in the sea where the crab’s young will spend time until they become adult and live on land as well. But the crabs should ensure their body moisture remains to prevent them from dying.

The area where the Coconut Crab can be found.

The most interesting about coconut crab is also an advantage to this species to any other crabs is the ability of climbing the coconut tree. That is why he was given the title of 'Coconut Thieves Crab'. This is because the coconut crab climbs the tree when the day began to cool down and when the day is getting dark. So if you're on the beach at night under a palm tree maybe you should not be afraid if there is something on the tree. It maybe a coconut crab is enjoying his favorite food - the coconut.

Coconut Crabs color varies from red to blue.

The coconut crab habitat is in the coastal of small islands in East Africa up to the South Pacific. Coconut crab considered as delicacy by human so it is less common in areas inhabited by humans. Due to the slow growth rate, the number is decreasing day by day.

Size of an adult coconut crab can reach up to 1 meter (3 feet) from foot to foot with foot weight of 4.1 kg (9 lb). It also can achieve up to 60 years of age. If you recall sea animals such as giant clams that are also has a long life that can reach up to hundreds of years old.

Coconut crab and coconut that might be it's food.

Once the eggs are hatched at sea, crab larvae will live in shallow coastal areas about 3-4 weeks and then it will stay on the seabed using shells snails as protection. Crab reaches maturity when it’s reaching the age of 5 years old.

Given these, crabs require a long time to reach a maturity age and it takes few more years to reach suitable size to be eaten by human. It is not worth it, if it became a favorite food. Maybe people did not have much choice and the taste of crab meat is typical unless if it’s prepared with other ingredients and spices with suitable cooking methods.

Coconut crabs climb coconut trees.

Coconut crabs can still be found on certain Pacific Islands where today it is respected as one of the creatures that have the function to keep the balance of nature. What is important for us to recognize this unique crab that is not just live on the land but also can climb coconut trees that is impossible for the other crabs! Do you want to see this crab in their habitat someday?