Is the Presence of Jellyfish Problematic or Beneficial?

Abstract

Jellyfish are a diverse group of animals. The group consists of Chordata, Ctenophora and, mainly, Cnidaria. Jellyfish are often thought to be harmful, but few can cause fatality in humans. They are important throughout the trophic levels and consume a variety of prey. Jellyfish are used for food and have a high potential for pharmaceutical use. During a jellyfish bloom, energy flows are shunted through the trophic levels. Additionally, unusual increases in populations of jellyfish can cause problems for fisheries, aquaculture, power plants and the tourist industries.

Keywords

• Jellyfish
• blooming
• Cnidaria
• jellyfish as food
• pharmaceutical uses