Moon Jellyfish Kill Tons of Goliath Groupers At St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant

[kristopher]

This is in the category of "weird news". Although it involves nuclear, the odd sequence could have been initiated by any thermal plant.




Moon Jellyfish Kill Tons of Goliath Groupers At St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant

Jellyfish must be passionate critics of nuclear energy. This past summer, they sacrificed their own lives to clog up nuclear power plants from as close as St. Lucie to as far away as U.K., Israel, and Japan. The sea creatures are unfortunate casualties of power plants that suck in water and marine life as opposed to South Florida's Turkey Point, which reuses and recirculates water.

In August, a massive influx of moon jellyfish clogged up the St. Lucie nuclear power plant, shutting down operations for a whole two days. The swarm of transparent creatures proved no match for the plant, which was constructed to withstand the impact of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

According to the Palm Beach Post, it wasn't just nuclear energy that was killed that August day. When the jellyfish got clogged in the system, their poisonous tentacles broke off as they traveled through the plant's pipes. Water in the intake canal became thick with the jellyfish's lethal body parts and other wildlife became trapped in a fatal web of stings.

Inwater Research Group biologists, who were onsite to oversee the plant's sea turtle protection program, poured vinegar over the swollen gills of trapped goliath groupers. Only ten were saved before the divers themselves had to be rescued. In all, upwards of 75 goliath grouper -- each weighing an average of 200 pounds -- were killed in the storm of rogue tentacles.

FPL is required to report any deaths of endangered species ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/jellyfish-grouper-power-plant_n_1136811.html?ref=green&ir=Green

[Ian David]

1. Mythbusters says vinegar makes jelly stings WORSE, IIRC. n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

3. It's not to take the sting away, it's to kill untriggered stingers before they make it worse.

[Ian David]

4. A word of caution about vinegar: Studies suggest that vinegar actually worsens the pain...

...

Researchers in Australia, home of the deadliest species of box jellyfish, have spent years studying jellyfish stings. One thing is certain: nothing works for sure. Vinegar (5% acetic acid) has been shown to be the best rinse for box jellyfish. It neutralizes unfired nematocysts so they can't inject venom. When vinegar is not available, most research suggests using sea water to rinse away the remaining nematocysts. Fresh water is no good -- it triggers nematocysts to inject venom.

A word of caution about vinegar: Studies suggest that vinegar actually worsens the pain of Portuguese Man of War, bluebottle, and other Physalia stings. These creatures are dangerous look-alikes to jellyfish. Vinegar has been shown to cause nearly 30% of Physalia nematocysts to fire.

More:
http://firstaid.about.com/od/bitesstings/f/07_JellyfishPee.htm



I stand corrected. According to Mythbusters, peeing on it triggers the stingers. Vodka neutralizes them.
http://liquidrhythmkayaking.com/2009/08/10/breaking-news-update-on-jellyfish-sting-cures/

[Sedona]

5. when I was growing up in South Florida

the lifeguards had ammonia to pour on our man o'war stings....definately took the pain away.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. OK, different forms of stingers and venom. It was box jellyfish I heard it about. And...

next time I get stung by a jellyfish I'll tell everyone not to pee on me.

[Ian David]

7. You can always find some other reason for people to pee on you, though. n/t

[Melissa G]

2. Oh look, the nuclear unrecs have already appeared.

Quick little button pushers.

[xchrom]

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