Box Jellyfish Facts

• Common Names: Box jellyfish, sea wasps, marine stingers
• Scientific Name: Cubozoa
• Adaptations: Each of a box jelly's tentacles has about 500,000 cnidocytes containing nematocysts, or harpoon-shaped mechanisms that inject venom into the victim. Their venom is used for catching prey and defense from predators. Unlike other jellyfish, which can only drift, box jellyfish have the ability to move.
• Habitat: The venomous species of box jellyfish are primarily restricted to the tropical Indo-Pacific, but various species can also be found in the Atlantic and east Pacific.
• Endangered: No. Box jellyfish have few predators and are unlikely to go extinct any time soon.

I chose to research this animal because I have always been intrigued by the wispy quality and beauty of jellyfish. They remind me of mystical beings or aliens of the sea. Also, I knew that box jellyfish are more advanced than other jellyfish, so I was interested in learning more about what sets them apart from other species of jellyfish.

Oceanographer's Instruments

Biological Oceanographer- Plankton net

Plankton nets are used to collect plankton, tiny plants and animals, in order to observe them. Biological oceanographers use plankton nets that are specially designed to collect organisms in high volumes.

Chemical Oceanographer- Nansen bottle

A Nansen bottle is a plastic or metal cylinder that is lowered from a cable into the ocean to obtain samples of seawater. The conditions of the water, such as temperature, can then be measured and tested.

Physical Oceanographer- FLIP

FLIP is an open ocean research vessel that is capable of flipping to a vertical position. It is used for collecting meteorological data and studying wave height, acoustic signals, water temperature, and density. FLIP has no engines or other means of propulsion and must be towed to open water. 

Geological Oceanographer- Bathymetric maps

Bathymetric maps are used to give a measurable description and visual presentation of the terrain underwater. A bathymetric map is color-coded to coordinate with different depths of water.

Geophysical Oceanographer- Drilling ship

A drilling ship is a vessel that has been equipped with a drilling apparatus. It is most commonly used for offshore drilling of new gas or oil wells or for scientific drilling.

Bob Ballard's "Why We Explore?"

Throughout his talk on "Why We Explore?", Ballard makes many points to emphasize the importance of exploring the ocean. The three most significant arguments he makes include accessing our natural resources, learning more about history, and potential habitation of the sea.

Ballard explains that 50% of America lies beneath the sea. This means that there is an abundance of resources under the sea, such as food and oil, that can be used by Americans. In order for this plethora of resources to be accessed, it is necessary to explore the waters in which they reside.

Ballard also states that the ocean is the largest museum on Earth. Due to all of the ships that have sunken over the centuries, the bottom of the ocean is home to many artifacts from forgotten times. Such times can be remembered with the exploration of the deep sea, which leads to the discovery of sunken relics and increases historical awareness.

A third point Ballard makes is that habitation is being proposed on the moon but not in the earth's own oceans. It makes more sense to seek potential habitation as close to home as possible; why leave the planet when there is plenty of unoccupied space here on Earth? With further exploration of underwater conditions, human habitation of the ocean could be a possible solution for overpopulation.

Ballard believes that exploring the ocean is crucial. Due to underwater resources, history under the ocean, and the possibility for underwater habitation, I agree that ocean exploration is important and necessary.