Convention goers and I shared a moment of amazement. Many snapped photos. But, we all thought it was an anomaly. On Monday morning, July 30th, dozens of this same species were floating near the Midway Museum. I went back yesterday, Tuesday, comment on the phenomenon and to take a few photos of my own.
Near New pier area July 31,2012
I did some Internet research and found several articles including a July 2010 article from the North County times in which Dr. Nigella Hillgarth of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
stated, "the Birch Aquarium has four of the jellies for
display . . . the black sea nettle has turned up in coastal
waters more frequently in recent years. Oceanographers don't know
why, but guess that it could be due to warmer oceans or changes in
the plankton populations that they eat." http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/article_3c15fcdb-dffa-5df3-ae82-a78243e3c501.html
Despite the fact that they are beautiful sea life, these Black Sea Nettles are far from their usual habitat. They appeared to be floating towards the Point Loma area. Perhaps this is becoming a new cyclical migration? Will San Diego become their new habitat. What other sea life are changing their patterns? One has to wonder about ocean temperature fluctuations and longitudinal ecological impact.
PS. On my early morning August 6th stroll, I saw no Black Sea Nettles-wonder if they were "harvested" or if they had migrated further up the coast . . .
Notesong strolling in San Diego CA,
Delores Fisher
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