What are the economical and ecological importance of jellyfish?

Answer 1

Economically they do not have much economical importance to humans directly. They do, however, prey on small fish and crustaceans so it can affect us indirectly. Contrasting, they help the economy by providing a beautiful sight to look at when Scuba diving.

They don`t half sting though!

Answer 2

The job of the jellyfish is to help cleanse ocean water and regulate biodiversity. The way that they move and eat helps to filter waste out of the ocean. By pulsating, they fill their giant bells with water and digest things like agricultural waste, which makes the ocean cleaner. They also play a large role in regulating biodiversity. By eating copepods (which eat photoplankton and then excrete toxins into the water), fish eggs, and larvae jellyfish help regulate biodiversity. It is especially important that jellyfish do this because competition is more likely to dominate at lower levels of the food chain. It has also been found that fish who are not yet able to defend themselves will hide behind jellyfish tentacles as protection from competition.

Answer 3

Generally, most jellyfish currently have a negative economic impact, due to the depleting of economically important fish and crustacean lavae and juveniles by predation. Large blooms of jellyfish can also clog intakes to power stations and foul fishing nets. In addition to a few species that can be lethal to humans, there are many species that can discourage tourism by causing painful stings, and therefore reduce the enjoyment of a seaside resort.

On the other hand, their benefits to the marine ecology aren't yet clearly understood, but may include predation on even more harmful species of marine life. A small asian market exists for the human consumption of certain jellyfish. The most potentially beneficial aspects of jellyfish, however, probably lies in the medical benefit of their toxins, which like many other species of poisonous and venomous creatures, is only now becoming appreciated. Isolation of individual components of toxic jellyfish venom may lead to life saving anticoagulants, defibrinating compounds, and many other medically beneficial serums. Even the knowledge gained from analyzing the effects of these toxic substances could have revolutionary consequences for medicine.

Moon jellyfish, however, are rather innocuous compared to their larger or more venomous cousins mentioned above. Their stings cannot penetrate human skin, seldom are larger than a salad plate, and look sort of cute. Since their habitat is close shore, though, their blooms occasionally are a problem for salt water intake systems of power plants, desalination plants, and boats. Their diet includes fish eggs, planktonic larvae, and crustaceans. But they also eat other jellyfish and serve as a plentiful source of food for many turtles and sea birds.