Don’t trifle with jellyfish
THINK a jellyfish is just a pointless blob drifting in the ocean? What it lacks in brains, it more than makes up for in other areas. Dr Emily Baxter, Senior Marine Conservation Officer with The Wildlife Trusts, tells us all about her favourite marine creature.
How many species of jelly fish are there in UK waters?
THERE are about six species of what we might call true jellyfish.
There’s the moon jelly; the blue jellyfish and its close relation the lion’s mane jellyfish; the big, solid, dome-shaped barrel jellyfish; the compass jelly – which has brown coloured compass-like markings on it and the mauve stinger.
We also get Portuguese man of war, by-the-wind-sailor and crystal jellies washed up. These unusual species live in open water but can often get transported here by strong winds or currents.
What do jellyfish eat?
THEY eat quite a range of things – plankton, small crustaceans, small fish, larvae and eggs. Some eat other jellies, they are quite
opportunistic in a way. Most of them float around and catch what they come into contact with.
Do jellyfish have brains?
THEY don’t have a brain but have quite a complex nerve network that controls their movements.
The edge of the bell is not completely spherical. There are indentations at various points around the edge with a tiny crystal-like thing in each one. That has sensory structures in it – ocelli which detect light and statoliths which detect gravity. This helps the jellyfish orientate and control its muscle contractions, so it knows which direction it is going in and which way up it is.
How do jellyfish sting? ALONG their tentacles they have got a lot of individual stinging cells that are triggered by touch or chemicals. It will automatically release a little balloontype thing with a little harpoon curled inside it, if it is touched, which will hook into the prey.
If a jellyfish is washed up can it still sting you?
I WOULD generally advise not to touch them. They all sting, it’s just that some have got a mild sting so we can’t feel it through the hard skin on our fingers. But if you touch one and touch your eye it might cause a burning sensation.
Why do you study jellyfish?
I WAS fascinated by how cool and beautiful they are. They play an important role in the carbon cycle.
It is estimated that between 3.7 and 6.8 billion tonnes of organic carbon can be trapped by jellyfish per year, equivalent to the United States co emissions in 2018.
Bird Dog
Start in a box position with your knees and hands at hip – and shoulder – width apart. Inhale as you lift opposite arm to opposite leg, creating a long straight line from fingertip to toe. Exhale and engage your core as you bring your hand in to touch your knee.
Do all of the repetitions on the same side before switching. If you’re struggling with pelvic girdle pain or keeping your balance, keep your foot on the ground and slide it along the mat instead.
Side plank twist
Lay on your side with your forearm flat on the floor, bottom elbow lined up under the shoulder, both legs bent, with feet together, and then lift your hips off the floor. Raise your other arm and then bring it down and twist it under your body. If you notice any doming in your core, make sure you’re bending both knees, and exhaling to engage your core as you twist gently. Repeat on the other side. Always check with your own doctor and midwife if you have any concerns about your health and before making any big changes to your exercise routine.
MORNING, I trust you slept well, what would you like for breakfast?’, I enquired, as Thomas and Emma took their seats at the table.
‘Toast, peanut butter, jam,’ Emma curtly replied, while Thomas stated, ‘toast, honey, no butter’.
I rushed off to prepare the order, only to hear Thomas hollering ‘milk’ from his seat, followed by Emma barking ‘Shreddies’.
While the toaster did its magic, I busied myself emptying the dishwasher and pondered exactly how I’d unwittingly signed up to a life in service.
Meal served, I awaited my next task, like an eager
waiter hoping for a tip.
Emma was happy to fill the lull and demanded a green bowl, in preference to the blue one I’d used to contain the Shreddies.
Breakfast service finished and it was time to brush their teeth, which they agreed to, on the provision I did the brushing. Presumably because they viewed it as beneath them.
I was starting to feel I’d found myself as a footman working at Downton Abbey, devoting my waking energy to scuttling around after his Lord and Lady.
Only I wasn’t even getting paid for this and I’m not sure my employers fully appreciated the top-class service.
Next up was potty-time. Thomas completed his business, stood up and simply bent over for me to wipe his bottom, without uttering a word.
‘I’m not sure even the staff at the Palace have to put up with this’, I thought, as I reached for some wipes.
For lunch, Victoria had prepared a cheese salad involving avocado, which Emma was eating with her fingers. I attempted to politely persuade her to use a fork.
She looked at her green avocado-ey hands in disgust, lent towards me and wiped them on my trousers, despite the perfectly good paper towel right next to her.
Once Victoria and I had finished the traditional post-lunch duties, Prince Regent and Her Royal Pushiness decided to a visit to the local park was in order.
Emma selected suitable clothes for her perambulation and handed them to her lady-in-waiting (me) who dressed her.
I looked at the clock. It was only 2pm. We didn’t even get a lunch break in this job, and there were a good six hours to go before clockingoff time, but this is what we signed up for.
We’re here to care and cater for them, show them the right path, so one day, we can operate as one big family unit and help each other out.
The only flaw in that plan is I remember being capable of helping, as a teenage boy, yet doing very little of it.
I fear it’s going to be a while before I can retire from my life as a servant.