Long-term distribution patterns and northward shift signals of the box jellyfish Carybdea brevipedalia in Korean waters

Carybdea brevipedalia is the only cubozoan species reported from Korean waters and is a major cause of jellyfish stings during summer along the southern coast and around Jeju Island. This study examined long-term spatiotemporal distribution patterns and potential signals of northward range change by integrating our researcher-led surveys (2013–2025) with nationwide monitoring records from the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS; 2011–2025). An occurrence level (OL) index was applied as