Lakes in British Columbia are being invaded by invasive freshwater jellyfish, also known as the peach blossom jellyfish. Recent research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) says that these jellyfish clones have been found in at least 34 locations till now.&nbsp;

These jellyfish are native to China, so their discovery and expanding population this far north is a cause for worry. This is the furthest north they've been found in North America, and climate change is expected to make things worse by the end of the decade.

"We know very little about how they affect ecosystems and biodiversity of these systems in Canada because the research hasn't been done yet. The worry is that they harm indigenous species by outcompeting them," Florian Lüskow, who conducted the study during his postdoctoral fellowship at UBC, said in a statement.

The first sightings of the peach blossom jellyfish in British Columbia were reported in 1990. At that time, they were mainly concentrated in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast.

In the United States, they were first spotted way back in 1908 and in the next 100 years spread to 43 of the 50 states, according to Animal Diversity Web.

The good news is that Peach blossom jellyfish cannot harm humans since their stings aren't able to tear through human skin. However, the sudden growth in their numbers is likely to affect the ecosystem of the region.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/pandemic-scare-as-125-viruses-are-found-lurking-in-chinas-fur-farms-756422">Pandemic scare! 125 viruses found lurking in China's fur farms</a>

"Between 1990 and 2023, a 34-year span, there have been 85 sightings, counted once per location per year, where each sighting could be one or thousands of jellyfish. But in this decade alone, we are predicting about 80 sightings, and likely in more than the 34 locations currently observed," Lüskow said.

British Columbia has relatively mild winters and warm summers, making it an ideal place for them.

"If climate change leads to freshwater temperature increases across British Columbia, we will likely see wider spread. Modelling indicates that even Alaskan reservoirs may potentially see invasion," he said.

However, scientists are a bit relieved by the fact that only male jellyfish have been found, which means they cannot reproduce and their adaptability to new environments is restricted.

Lakes in British Columbia are being invaded by invasive freshwater jellyfish, also known as the peach blossom jellyfish. Recent research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) says that these jellyfish clones have been found in at least 34 locations till now.

Lakes in British Columbia are being invaded by invasive freshwater jellyfish, also known as the peach blossom jellyfish. Recent research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) says that these jellyfish clones have been found in at least 34 locations till now. These jellyfish are native to China, so their discovery and expanding population this far north is a cause for worry. This is the furthest north they've been found in North America, and climate change is expected to make things worse by the end of the decade. "We know very little about how they affect ecosystems and biodiversity of these systems in Canada because the research hasn't been done yet. The worry is that they harm indigenous species by outcompeting them," Florian Lüskow, who conducted the study during his postdoctoral fellowship at UBC, said in a statement. The first sightings of the peach blossom jellyfish in British Columbia were reported in 1990. At that time, they were mainly concentrated in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. In the United States, they were first spotted way back in 1908 and in the next 100 years spread to 43 of the 50 states, according to Animal Diversity Web. The good news is that Peach blossom jellyfish cannot harm humans since their stings aren't able to tear through human skin. However, the sudden growth in their numbers is likely to affect the ecosystem of the region. Also Read: Pandemic scare! 125 viruses found lurking in China's fur farms "Between 1990 and 2023, a 34-year span, there have been 85 sightings, counted once per location per year, where each sighting could be one or thousands of jellyfish. But in this decade alone, we are predicting about 80 sightings, and likely in more than the 34 locations currently observed," Lüskow said. British Columbia has relatively mild winters and warm summers, making it an ideal place for them. "If climate change leads to freshwater temperature increases across British Columbia, we will likely see wider spread. Modelling indicates that even Alaskan reservoirs may potentially see invasion," he said. However, scientists are a bit relieved by the fact that only male jellyfish have been found, which means they cannot reproduce and their adaptability to new environments is restricted.

Jellyfish native to China have reached the oceans of Canada. Should you be worried?

Scientists have announced the discovery of the oldest species of swimming jellyfish in 505-million-year-old fossils from Burgess Shale in Canada, known for its well-preserved specimens. The new species, named Burgessomedusa phasmiformis, had a bell-shaped body up to 20cm high and around 90 short tentacles for capturing sizable prey.

The first human ancestors appeared between five million and seven million years ago. This means that these jellyfishes existed about 500 million years before first human beings began walking on their to legs in Africa.&nbsp;

Jellyfish belong to the medusozoans subgroup of cnidaria phylum and are 95 per cent water.&nbsp;

Jellyfish rarely fossilise due to dominant water content and subsequent decay after they die. Jellyfish's evolutionary history has been studied mainly through microscopic fossilised larval stages and molecular studies from living jellyfish, given the rarity of their fossils.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/14-year-old-boy-loses-life-after-getting-stung-by-box-jellyfish-at-australian-beach-457334">14-year-old boy loses life after getting stung by box jellyfish at Australian beach</a>

Thereby, the fossils of jellyfish from the late 1980s and early 1990s are being deemed remarkable.

It took many years for paleontologists to pin down a formal description of the fossils. These findings were finally published on Tuesday, August 1, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Dr Jean-Bernard Caron, a curator of invertebrate paleontology at the Royal Ontario Museum, expressed surprise at the delicate animals found in rock layers on mountain tops.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;WION Climate Tracker: U.S. storm brings jellyfish ashore

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"Finding such incredibly delicate animals preserved in rock layers on top of these mountains is such a wondrous discovery," Dr Caron was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;

Dr Caron added that this finding contributes another remarkable lineage of animals to the Burgess Shale, providing insights into the evolution of life on Earth.

Joe Moysiuk, a co-author and paleontology student at the University of Toronto told The Guardian that the challenge of pinning down jellyfish in the Cambrian fossil record despite their early existence was remarkable.

The discovery of Burgessomedusa phasmiformis reveals a more complex Cambrian food chain than previously believed, confirming that these jellyfish were indeed swimming in that era, according to Moysiuk.

<h2>Where these 'ancient seafloor communities' were buried?</h2>

A total of 182 fossils of Burgessomedusa&nbsp;were reportedly uncovered in a particular Canadian spot called the Raymond Quarry.&nbsp;

The fossils were not detected for a long time.

"Is it that they tended to live high in the water column, out of reach from the mud flows that buried these ancient seafloor communities?" Moysiuk was quoted as asking in Smithsonian magazine.

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Scientists have announced the discovery of the oldest species of swimming jellyfish in 505-million-year-old fossils from Burgess Shale in Canada, known for its well-preserved specimens.

Scientists have announced the discovery of the oldest species of swimming jellyfish in 505-million-year-old fossils from Burgess Shale in Canada, known for its well-preserved specimens. The new species, named Burgessomedusa phasmiformis, had a bell-shaped body up to 20cm high and around 90 short tentacles for capturing sizable prey. The first human ancestors appeared between five million and seven million years ago. This means that these jellyfishes existed about 500 million years before first human beings began walking on their to legs in Africa. Jellyfish belong to the medusozoans subgroup of cnidaria phylum and are 95 per cent water. Jellyfish rarely fossilise due to dominant water content and subsequent decay after they die. Jellyfish's evolutionary history has been studied mainly through microscopic fossilised larval stages and molecular studies from living jellyfish, given the rarity of their fossils. Also read | 14-year-old boy loses life after getting stung by box jellyfish at Australian beach Thereby, the fossils of jellyfish from the late 1980s and early 1990s are being deemed remarkable. It took many years for paleontologists to pin down a formal description of the fossils. These findings were finally published on Tuesday, August 1, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Dr Jean-Bernard Caron, a curator of invertebrate paleontology at the Royal Ontario Museum, expressed surprise at the delicate animals found in rock layers on mountain tops. Also watch | WION Climate Tracker: U.S. storm brings jellyfish ashore × "Finding such incredibly delicate animals preserved in rock layers on top of these mountains is such a wondrous discovery," Dr Caron was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Dr Caron added that this finding contributes another remarkable lineage of animals to the Burgess Shale, providing insights into the evolution of life on Earth. Joe Moysiuk, a co-author and paleontology student at the University of Toronto told The Guardian that the challenge of pinning down jellyfish in the Cambrian fossil record despite their early existence was remarkable. The discovery of Burgessomedusa phasmiformis reveals a more complex Cambrian food chain than previously believed, confirming that these jellyfish were indeed swimming in that era, according to Moysiuk. Where these 'ancient seafloor communities' were buried? A total of 182 fossils of Burgessomedusa were reportedly uncovered in a particular Canadian spot called the Raymond Quarry. The fossils were not detected for a long time. "Is it that they tended to live high in the water column, out of reach from the mud flows that buried these ancient seafloor communities?" Moysiuk was quoted as asking in Smithsonian magazine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists confirm jellyfish who existed about 500 million years before early human beings

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Jellyfish native to China have reached the oceans of Canada. Should you be worried?

Scientists confirm jellyfish who existed about 500 million years before early human beings