The ecological importance of large gelatinous zooplankton, such as cnidarians, ctenophores and salps, has been increasingly recognized since their unusual aggregations and large swarms or "blooms" have been reported frequently in many parts of the world's ocean in recent decades. In order to understand the retrospective and current trends of the blooms, their mechanisms, impacts on fisheries and marine ecosystems, countermeasures, etc., the Fourth International Jellyfish Bloom Symposium (FIJBS) was held between 4th and 7th June, 2013, at the International Conference Center in Hiroshima, Japan. There are ca. 120 delegates from 29 countries and more than 130 presentations in this symposium. Professor Sun Song and his team members Professor Li Chaolun, Professor Xu Kuidong, Dr. Zhang Fang and Dr Wang Yantao in IOCAS were invited to attend this conference.

Professor Sun Song had a presentation “New perspective of causes of jellyfish bloom in the Yellow sea and East China Sea”, he also chaired a topic “Jellyfish physiology and ecology” during this symposium. Prof. Li Chaolun delivered the presentation titled as “Effects of prey concentration and temperature on asexual reproduction of polyps of Aurelia sp.1”. Prof. Xu Kuidong, Dr. Zhang Fang (Associate professor), and Dr. Wang Yantao delivered topics “Spatio-temporal distribution and contribution of protozoa and copepod nauplii during the occurrence of the giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai in the Yellow Sea”, “Bell diameter and growth rate of giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae) during spring and summer in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea” and ”Decreased Noctiluca scintillans abundance in 2009 and 2011 in Jiaozhou Bay: results of Aurelia sp.1 predation?”, respectively. Scientists from IOCAS have had stimulating discussion and exchanges with jellyfish ecologists from other countries and widened research vision through this most important jellyfish bloom conference.

Professor Sun Song is presenting his research topic