Jellyfish bloom in spring when winter ‘timer’ dings

In the spring, moon jellyfish emerge all at once, as if blooming like flowers.

The coordinated appearance of the adult form of the animal (Aurelia aurita) is a result of a temperature-sensitive protein that acts as a “timer.” The timer, set off by colder water temperatures, triggers the beginning of the jellyfish metamorphosis, scientists report January 16 in Current Biology.