“This lack of awareness classifies the invader as ‘cryptic’, progressing silently through a life cycle that is difficult to observe, while its appearances remain sporadic.”
While the study focuses on European respondents, the findings are applicable to Canada, where scientists often rely on reports from citizen scientists to identify invasive species. The authors argue that increased public awareness could be an important mitigation tool in monitoring and slowing the spread of C. sowerbii.
Freshwater jellyfish are already present in Canada
Scientists are increasingly paying attention to the seemingly “invisible” spread of C. sowerbii and other invasive species that may fly under the radar as warming water temperatures allow some organisms to expand their range.
“There is anecdotal evidence that the invasive jellyfish had been present in British Columbia lakes and ponds for decades. Still, compiled data suggest that the number of sightings has increased considerably since the year 2000,” Florian Lüskow, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia who was involved in the recent European study, wrote in 2023.
“Unfortunately, however, we still have very limited information about the range of its presence in Canada, how it got here, how it spreads, and what its essential impact on freshwater ecosystems across Canada may be.”
To date, the species has been reported in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, normally seen in closed environments like lakes, ponds and quarries.