Because of this, sweeping claims about global changes in jellyfish populations are up for debate. However, jellyfish are a difficult species to study: their life cycles aren’t well understood, and catching them by net is not a good option due to their fragile, gelatinous bodies. “Our study confirms these observations scientifically after analysis of available information from 1950 to the present for more than 138 different jellyfish populations around the world,” said Lucas Brotze Brotz, the lead author of the study in a press release. A study from April 2012 in Hydrobiologia found increasing jellyfish populations in 62 percent of the regions analyzed, including coastal areas of Asia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. But that possibility could be on the rise if, as has been suggested, jellyfish numbers are increasing. It’s good to have this information in-hand when you go to the beach just in case-though it’s unlikely that you’ll be stung. Pacific sea nettles ( Chrysaora fuscescens) are found off the coasts of California and Oregon, often in large groups, or blooms. Because these aren’t yet available to the public, putting vinegar on the affected area and seeking medical attention are the suggested treatments. In the case of a box jelly sting, it would be helpful to have Yanagihara nearby with the two treatments she has developed-or even better would be to make use of her preventive ointment before going in the water. Making sure that sand stays clear of the wound is also an important task, but likely a difficult one while on the beach. Before you do any rinsing, however, remove any jellyfish tentacles that remain on the skin, as nematocysts on loose tentacles can continue to sting even after they are detached from the jelly. Instead, experts suggest rinsing the area with saltwater to help reduce discomfort. That’s because pouring freshwater-including urine-on the area will change the composition of the solution surrounding the remaining cells and may actually trigger the release of more nematocysts and venom. But don’t pull those board shorts off too quickly-urine can do a lot of things, but it doesn’t help the sting. So after you’re stung, you should pee on it, right? Or get someone else to? That’s what you’ve seen on TV-maybe you’re thinking of a certain incident from Friends. The complex concoction of these proteins varies (along with the stinging cell mechanism) from species to species, which is why we might only feel a small sticky sensation when we come in contact with some anemones, while a box jelly sting may cause a trip to the emergency room or even kill you. Angel Yanagihara, a research professor studying box jellyfish venom at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of Hawaii, explains that the porins in box jellyfish are fast-acting and “promiscuous:” they are indiscriminate and “will punch holes in all types of cells” including blood, skin and nerve cells. One of the main causes of this discomfort is a type of protein called a porin found in the venom of all jellyfish-and in all their relatives, including corals and anemones, which together form a group of creatures collectively known as cnidarians. Once the venom is injected into your skin, the pain, redness and blistering begin. The sting of this particular species of box jelly is not typically fatal, but the highly toxic venom is still extremely painful. This Bonaire Banded Box Jellyfish (Tamoya ohboya) is found in the Caribbean.
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