Fact Friday

Golden jellyfish

These are no ordinary jellyfish. The golden jellyfish in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake move together in a daily migration that follows the sun from one side of this marine lake to the other. Just like coral, these jellyfish have symbiotic algae, called zooxanthellae, living in their tissues. The zooxanthellae photosynthesize and then share nutrients with the jellyfish, which it needs to survive. Once the sun goes down, the jellyfish migrate back to the other side of the lake where they begin the cycle all over again the next morning.

Photo Credit: ©ILCP/Keith Ellenbogen

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Leopard Sea Cucumber

April 5, 2024

Leopard Sea Cucumber

Sea cucumbers are often referred to as “earthworms of the sea.” These strange-looking creatures are extremely beneficial to coral reefs. They use their tentacles to shovel sand, tiny organisms, and detritus into their mouths. Similar to earthworms, they provide “fertilizer” or food for other animals. They do so by excreting waste products such as calcium carbonate and ammonia, which provides nutrients for other animals like corals.

Photo Credit: Ken Marks