Maybe you’ll have met her: it embrants a jellyfish, but it is not at all. Its scientific name is Salpa Fusiformisa marine creature at all at all dangerous that lately is often warning along the Italian coasts. This species, a tunicate, is totally harmless and His presence is a precious help for the sea.
There Salpa Fusiformis In fact, it is nicknamed “sea cleaner” because its populations contribute to the Vertical Carbon Fluxthe vertical flow of carbon, as demonstrated by some studies.
The sail Metabolic tons of carbon dioxide present in the wateraccumulates in the seabed, preventing this from finishing in the atmosphere. Not little for a multicellular invertebrate. But it did not end here because even under another aspect this body plays a fundamental role in the purification of the sea: its diet. The tunicas feed mainly of phytoplankton and bacteria. In this way they act as of the Excellent “natural filters”.
The Salpa in question populates the Atlantic Ocean in greater concentration and generally the equatorial and temperate regions. For some years, however, this Salpa has been glimpsed in the Mediterranean and in Italy in particular in the south. Together with the SALPA MAXIMA, there Salpa Fusiformis It is now among the most common tunicas of our seas.
These organisms are spreading on the Calabrian coasts in particular in the warm waters of the Ionian area …
Posted by Lipu Caserta On Monday, July 11, 2022
His habitat and the threats he has to face
This creatures far prefers the open sea, living up to 800 meters deep and going up on the surface during the night. The currents then transport it to the shore where it does not usually show up in long chains. This is how this species mates and reproduces. Although the Salpa Fusiformis It prefers the pelagic environment, coastal sightings have become increasingly frequent. The salt generally approach the beaches in periods other than those frequented by tourists, therefore it is not frequent to meet these invertebrates.
Unfortunately, crashing, the Salpa Fusiformis It is frequently victim of uncivilized swimmers. Its certainly bizarre appearance can deceive. The body is transparent, as made of plastic, and gelatinous. This is also why the Salpa is mistakenly mistaken for a jellyfish by generating panic on the beach.
However, she is harmless and should not be captured and removed from the sea. The same goes for jellyfish. Killing them is therefore a crime before boasted to want to purge the sea from unwelcome animals, it is good to remember that the sea is the house of those creatures. We are the guests, most of the time unwanted.
