A recent study done by Dr. Florian Lüskow and Dr. Evgeny Pakhomov from the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) and Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF), University of British Columbia (UBC), revealed the growing presence of the invasive peach blossom jellyfish in British Columbia (B.C.) waters, marking its furthest northern reach in North America. Read the UBC News article: Thousands of jellyfish clones are multiplying in B.C. lakes

The jellyfish, an introduced jellyfish species from China, has been reported with 85 sightings in BC in the last 34 years. However, Dr. Lüskow and Dr. Pakhomov predicted about 80 sightings for this decade alone and in more locations than currently observed as climate change warms the freshwater bodies of B.C. “If climate change leads to freshwater temperature increases across B.C., we will likely see wider spread. Modelling indicates that even Alaskan reservoirs may potentially see invasion,” said Dr. Pakhomov.

Though harmless to humans, this jellyfish's ecological impact on indigenous species is largely unknown. A silver lining is that only genetically identical male jellyfish have been found, meaning the species cannot reproduce sexually, limiting its ability to adapt to new environments. 

Dr. Lüskow and Dr. Pakhomov plan to map the peach blossom jellyfish's actual distribution and better quantify its impact on freshwater ecosystems using environmental DNA. They would also like to know wherever the jellyfish occur, so if you spot a peach blossom jellyfish, feel free to submit a report to iNaturalist, the Invasive Species Council of BC, or to them directly.