Alex Trelinski
THE summer season and hot weather brings concern from beach goers in Spain over jellyfish sightings but also over salpas- transparent organisms that measure up to 10 centimetres.
They are totally harmless to humans despite their appearance, which to some eyes resemble jellyfish.
Salpas do not sting, bite or attack, but can die within a few seconds of coming out of the water.
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They can become a smelly, slimy mess when their life cycles complete and they die en masse on beaches.
Salpas are known for their jelly-like bodies and are an integral part of the marine ecosystem.
They filter food by pumping water through their gossamer-like tissues, extracting phytoplankton, their primary food source.
The salpas feeding system allows them to achieve vast numbers, which typically occurs when there’s a large algae bloom.
They move through the sea quickly and efficiently, increasing in size by as much as 10% per hour until reaching full maturity after just 48 hours.
They thrive in warm water, currents, and increased nutrient availability in the sea.
For this reason they are sometimes considered an indicator of climate change, as their numbers suggest warming seas and oceans.
Salpas have a unique reproduction cycle, which can contribute to their sudden appearances in large numbers.
They alternate between sexual and asexual reproductive phases, allowing for rapid population growth under favourable conditions.
