The Ear is intrigued. Oregon Field Guide will go undersea to observe jellyfish and talk with scientists who are gathering data on them at 8:30 p.m. next Thursday, and at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24, on Oregon Public Broadcasting stations.

Around Newport Harbor in Yaquina Bay, jellyfish, particularly the Sea Nettle, are found in large numbers. Often referred to as the “vacuum cleaners of the ocean,” they kill their prey with toxins secreted from their tentacles. There’s growing concern they might be competing with fish for food. OFG visits with scientists who are trying to understand the role the jellyfish plays in the food web to understand and predict changes that might occur in this ecosystem.