Jellyfish have been thriving even as Chesapeake Bay waters get more polluted.
"Jellyfish can deal with that a lot better than things like blue crabs and fish," said Josh Stone with Virginia Marine Institute of Science.
Stone is studying at VIMS. His focus is jellyfish in the Chesapeake Bay. Pockets of them can be found now in parts of the Bay and its rivers.
In a of couple weeks, their numbers could be higher than normal. Above-average temperatures in the first half of the year means warmer water.
"Their populations are going to start ramping up to catch up with their food source and then that's when we'll start seeing them a lot," Stone said.
So how do you know if there are jellyfish in the water? Buoys are hoping to help.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has put ten of them out in the Bay.
They gauge the two key factors for jellyfish--how salty and warm the water is.
On NOAA's website, you can check if conditions in your area are right for jellyfish.
Click here to visit the website.
A stretch of hot and dry days means more jellyfish in the Bay.
"They go wherever the water takes them or wherever the winds take them," Stone said.
