Five Golden Rings

Five Golden Rings, originally uploaded by StGrundy.

This photo speaks to me. Such vivid color, and a wonderful composition.

Here are the photographer's notes:

"Pacific Sea Nettles
(Chrysaora fuscescens)

Georgia Aquarium - Tropical Diver Gallery
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
October, 2008

Featured on front page of Free Nature December, 2008

See the rest of my shots from the Georgia Aquarium at this set

Georgia Aquarium is home to more than 150 new Pacific sea nettles! Come see the brand new, beautiful jellies on display now in the Tropical Diver Gallery.

Aquarium biologists ventured into 48° Pacific Ocean water, dodging hefty sea swells and inclement weather, in order to collect the jellies. Through a permit from the State of Oregon, Georgia Aquarium was able to attain the jellies for educational display and husbandry research at the Aquarium.

Pacific sea nettles are overly abundant off the coast of Oregon and have become a nuisance to fisherman in the area. The large fluctuation of jellies is thought to be a global indicator of climate change. Georgia Aquarium biologists plan to study the jellies to learn more about this fascinating animal and improve aquaculture techniques.

The Pacific sea nettle is common along the coast of California and Oregon and occurs, but is less common, in waters north to the Gulf of Alaska, west to the seas around Japan and south to the Baja Peninsula. This sea nettle is generally larger than similar species found in the Atlantic. In the wild, it can grow to a diameter of three feet (91 cm) and its thick oral arms can extend 12 feet (3.6 m) below the animal. The thin tentacles that hang down from around the edge of its body can inflict a painful sting."