Volume XXXV, Number 1
Aloha and happy new year! Welcome to the first Seawords issue of 2020! This joint January-February edition focuses on jellyfish. Swimming with the currents, drifting on the waves, or resting on the sea floor, the members of phylum Cnidaria can be anywhere from 1 centimeter to 36 meters long, and are truly a testament to the dizzying diversity present in the ocean. Turn to Page 6 to find out what kind of jellyfish you are! Read about the essential contributions jellyfish have made to science on Page 10. This issue also celebrates Valentine’s Day by examining the relationships that enable the optimal functionality of the ocean. On Page 14, read about the way jellyfish influence the marine ecosystem around them. Page 23 details the symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and Vibrio fischeri. And turn to Page 12 to learn about some of the strangest mating rituals in the sea! The ocean is a truly remarkable place, home to so many incredible organisms, many of which are in danger as a result of climate change (Page 19). As we enter this new decade, caring for the world around us must become a global priority. What would you like to see more of in Seawords? Send in your thoughts! Thank you for reading!
Zada Boyce-Quentin, Seawords Editor and Alyssa Mincer, Associate Editor
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