Fluctuations in cephalopod and jellyfish abundances: reasons and potential impacts on marine ecosystems

CRESPI ABRIL, AUGUSTO CÉSAR; STEFANIE KELLER

Recent Impulses to Marine Science and Engineering- Reviews

Youmares

Año: 2013; p. 1 - 20

It is well known that human activities are changing marine ecosystems. Global warming and fishery exploitation are affecting abundances and distribution of many species in the world?s oceans. Regarding cephalopods and jellyfish, several records of drastic population increases have already been published. High abundances of these species have contradictory effects on human activities and ecosystems. On one hand, they may significantly alter ecosystems, diminish prey populations and negatively affect their fisheries. Jellyfish may even interfere with human activities destroying fishing equipment and clogging cooling systems. On the other hand, high abundances are favourable for fisheries that target these species. In this review, we summarized relevant cases of abundance fluctuations in cephalopods and jellyfish observed in several marine ecosystems. Possible causes of these fluctuations are described together with their potential impacts on human activities and marine ecosystems.