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Effect of salinity and light intensity on somatic growth and podocyst production in polyps of the giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae)

  • CHINA JELLYFISH PROJECT
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Abstract

Frequent blooms of the giant jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, have occurred in the East Asian Marginal Seas since 2000 and have had a devastating effect on commercial fisheries. To determine the probability of future bloom development to permit effective countermeasures, it is essential to assess the influence of environmental factors on polyp development. In this study, the effects of salinity on the polyps of N. nomurai from the coastal waters of Dalian in the northern Yellow Sea were tested at salinities ranging from 2.5 to 45. The combined effects of salinity (15 and 32) and light intensity (800, 400, and 0 lux) in a 12-h light–12-h dark photoperiod were also assessed. The lower and upper salinity limits for N. nomurai polyp survival were 10 and 40, respectively. The salinity range of 20–27.5 was best for podocyst reproduction. Survival and somatic growth of polyps, and their asexual production of podocysts, were significantly greater at low to middle than at high salinities. Polyps survived, grew, and produced podocysts at all light intensities tested; however, differences in light intensity induced few statistically significant changes. These results indicated that N. nomurai polyps are adapted to survive, grow, and reproduce in estuaries and near-shore environments.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2011CB403601), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31400406), and the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (200903005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Ecology, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Liaoning Province, Heishijiao Street 50, Dalian, 116023, China

    Jing Dong, Ming Sun, Yu Chai, Yun Zhao & Aiyong Wang

  2. Western Washington University, Shannon Point Marine Center, 1900 Shannon Point Road, Anacortes, WA, 98221, USA

    Jennifer E. Purcell

  3. School of Marine Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116024, China

    Yun Zhao

Authors
  1. Jing Dong
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  2. Ming Sun
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  3. Jennifer E. Purcell
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  4. Yu Chai
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  5. Yun Zhao
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  6. Aiyong Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing Dong.

Additional information

Guest editors: Song Sun, Xiaoxia Sun & Ian Jenkinson / Giant Jellyfish Blooms and Ecosystem Change

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Dong, J., Sun, M., Purcell, J.E. et al. Effect of salinity and light intensity on somatic growth and podocyst production in polyps of the giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae). Hydrobiologia 754, 75–83 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2087-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2087-y

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