Researchers confirmed what was already known: jellyfish consume larger prey as they grow, which means they move up the food chain.
They also discovered that some "healthy fat" concentrations increase as jellyfish grow.
These changes could be influenced by their diet, as the jellyfish accumulate more fatty acids as they feed on larger prey with higher levels of fatty acids.
Jellyfish Size Might Influence Their Nutritional Value
(Photo : VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Jellyfish can be both predators and prey as they drift through ocean currents.
They eat almost anything they can get their hands on and follow the typical oceanic pattern of large consuming small, as per ScienceDaily.
According to a recent University of British Columbia study on these gelatinous globs, jellyfish may become more nutritious as they grow larger.
Jellyfish grow in size due to the likelihood of encountering prey, the length and number of tentacles, and the size of their bells (the umbrella-like part of them).
As a result, smaller jellyfish consume phytoplankton, microzooplankton, and eggs, whereas larger jellyfish consume all of the above as well as shrimp and fish.
Jellyfish, on the other hand, are primarily preyed upon by animals both in and out of the water.
They are important prey because they are easy to digest and catch due to their high-water content.
"Our study looked more closely to see if there was any information we could draw about nutrition in jellyfish," said Jessica Schaub, lead author, and PhD student at the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries and the Department of Earth, Oceans, and Atmospheric Sciences at UBC.
This information helps us understand the true nutritional value of jellyfish.
Schaub investigated how energy moving through a food web might appear to jellyfish.
What they eat, what they are made of, and how this may influence what eats them.
First, Schaub confirmed what was already known: jellyfish consume larger prey as they grow, which means they move up the food chain.
The researchers discovered some evidence that these changes may be influenced by their diet, as the jellyfish accumulate more fatty acids as they feed on larger prey with higher levels of fatty acids.
The study discovered size trends, highlighting how important jellyfish size is when discussing marine food webs.
The inclusion of these creatures will not only improve their representation in food web models, but will also help inform other studies.
Also Read: Brainless Jellyfish Actively Hunt, Surprise Experts
Jellyfish Eating Habits
Jellyfish have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles that they use to stun or paralyze their prey before devouring them, as per American Oceans.
Their mouth is located inside their bell-shaped body. They consume and dispose of waste from this opening.
Jellyfish are propelled forward as they squirt water from their mouths.
Tentacles dangle from the smooth baglike body and sting prey.
Jellyfish stings can be painful and sometimes fatal to humans. Jellyfish, on the other hand, do not attack humans on purpose.
Most stings occur when people inadvertently touch a jellyfish, but stings from dangerous species can be fatal. Jellyfish consume their food quickly.
They couldn't float if they had to carry a large, undigested meal around with them.
Jellyfish are critical components of the ocean's food chain. They eat a wide range of smaller organisms, such as microscopic plankton, crustaceans, and even other jellyfish.
In turn, jellyfish are an important part of the diets of other sea creatures. Sunfish and turtles, for example, frequently feed on jellyfish.
Some people catch jellyfish and prepare them in a variety of dishes. Overall, jellyfish are vital to the ocean's ecosystem.
They are one-of-a-kind creatures due to their unusual feeding habits and varied diet.
Related article: New Jellyfish Species Discovered in the Philippines
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