Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evidence of reverse development in Leptomedusae (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa): the case of Laodicea undulata (Forbes and Goodsir 1851)

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laboratory rearing and reconstruction of Laodicea undulata (Hydrozoa) life cycle led to the discovery for the first time in Leptomedusae of the potential for ontogeny reversal, i.e. the medusa stage can asexually transform back into the polyp stage. In turn, each rejuvenated polyp stage can newly activate the standard developmental programme towards colony morphogenesis and budding of secondary medusae. These can be considered as clonemates of the initial medusa batch, since they originate by asexual processes. In combination with the ordinary medusa budding process, the potential for reverse development might represent a tool to increase jellyfish population growth rate during the favourable season, but eventually it does not avoid jellyfish to die. Comparably to polyembryony, reverse development leads to offspring multiplication from a single fertilization event, with a wider dispersal of each single genotype; eventually, it favours the enhancement of the overall genetic diversity at small spatial scale. The life cycle of L. undulata from the Mediterranean Sea is re-described, linking previously uncoupled descriptions of either the polyp or the early medusa stages. Taxonomic considerations of the genus Laodicea and a comparison among the known Mediterranean species are also provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agassiz L (1860) Contributions to the Natural History of the United States of America. Second monograph 3:i–xi, 1–301

  • Agassiz A, Mayer AG (1899) Acalephs from the Fiji Islands. Bull Mus comp Zool Harv 32:157–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Babnik P (1948) Hidromeduze iz srednjega in junega Jadrana v letih 1939 in 1940 Hydromedusae from the middle and South Adriatic 1939 and 1940. Acta Adriat 3:275–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Bavestrello G, Sommer C, Sarà M (1992) Bi-directional conversion in Turritopsis nutricula (Hydrozoa). In: Bouillon J, Boero F, Cicogna F, Gili JM, Hughes RG (eds) Aspects of Hydrozoan biology. Sci Mar 56:137–140

  • Berrill NJ (1953) Growth and form in gymnoblastic hydroids. VII. Growth and reproduction in Syncoryne and Coryne. J Morphol 92:273–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boero F (1984) The ecology of marine hydroids and effects of environmental factors: a review. Pubbl Stn Zool Napoli I Mar Ecol 5:93–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boero F, Sarà M (1987) Motile sexual stages and evolution of Leptomedusae (Cnidaria). Boll Zool 54:131–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boero F, Balduzzi A, Bavestrello G, Caffa B, Cattaneo Vietti R (1986) Population dynamics of Eudendrium glomeratum (Cnidaria: Anthomedusae) on the Portofino promontory (Ligurian Sea). Mar Biol 92:81–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boero F, Bouillon J, Piraino S (1992) On the origins and evolution of hydromedusan life cycles (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). In: Dallai R (ed) Sex origin and evolution. Selected symposia and monographs UZI 6:59–68

  • Boero F, Gravili C, Pagliara P, Piraino S, Bouillon J, Schmid V (1998) The cnidarian premises of metazoan evolution: from triploblasty, to coelom formation, to metamery. Ital J Zool 65:5–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boero F, Bouillon J, Piraino S, Schmid V (2002) Asexual reproduction in the Hydrozoa (Cnidaria). In: Hughes RN (ed) Reproductive biology of invertebrates. Volume XI: Progress in asexual reproduction. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi, pp 141–158

  • Bouillon J, Boero F (2000) Phylogeny and classification of Hydroidomedusae. The Hydrozoa: a new classification in the light of old knowledge. Thalassia Salentina 24:1–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouillon J, Medel MD, Pagès F, Gili JM, Boero F, Gravili C (2004) Fauna of the Mediterranean Hydrozoa. Sci Mar 68(2):1–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinckmann-Voss A (1970) Anthomedusae/Athecata (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria) of the Mediterranean. Part I. Capitata. Fauna Flora Golfo di Napoli, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, 39:1–96

  • Browne ET (1907) A revision of the medusae belonging to the family Laodiceidae. Ann Mag Nat Hist 20:457–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius PFS (1995) North-West European Thecate Hydroids and their medusae. Part 1. Laodiceidae to Haleciidae. In: Barnes RSK, Crothers JH (eds) Synopses of the British fauna (new series). The Linn Soc London and Est Coas Sci Assoc Field Studies Council, Shrewsbury, 50:1–347

  • Craig SF, Slobodkin LB, Wray GA, Biermann CH (1997) The ‘paradox’ of polyembryony: a review of the cases and a hypothesis for its evolution. Evol Ecol 11:127–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes E, Goodsir J (1851) On some remarkable marine Invertebrata new to the British Seas. Trans R Soc Edinb 20:307–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey J (1968) Die Entwicklungsleistungen der Medusenknospen und Medusen von Podocoryne carnea M Sars nach Isolation und Dissoziation. Wilhelm Roux’ Arch Entwicklungsmech Org 160:428–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giard A (1898) Sur l’éthologie du Campanularia caliculata Hincks (Stolonisation et allogonie). C R Soc Biol 5:17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Gili JM, Hughes RG (1995) The ecology of marine benthic hydroids. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu Rev 33:351–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Gravier N (1970) Libération des médusoides par Macrorhynchia philippina Kirchenpauer, 1872 (Hydrozoa, Plumulariidae). Recl Trav Stn Mar Endoume 10:253–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadzi J (1909) Einige Kapitel aus der Entwicklungsgeschichte von Chrysaora. Arb Zool Inst Univ Wien 17:17–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Hincks T (1868) A history of the British hydroid zoophytes. John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kramp PL (1927) The hydromedusae of the Danish waters. K Dan Vidensk Selsk Biol Skr Afd 8(12):1–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramp PL (1959) The Hydromedusae of the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent waters. Dana-Reports Carlsberg Found 46:1–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubota S (2005) Distinction of two morphotypes of Turritopsis nutricula Medusae (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Anthomedusae) in Japan, with reference to their different abilities to revert to the hydroid stage and their distinct geographical distributions. Biogeography 7:41–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubota S, Mizutani S (2003) Strange fates of degenerated medusae of Turritopsis nutricula (Hydrozoa, Anthomedusae, Clavidae) from northern Japan. Nanki Seibutu 45:107–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Metschnikoff E (1886) Embryologische Studien an Medusen. Ein Beitrag zur Genealogie der Primitiv-Organe. Verlag Alfred Hölder, k.k. Hof-u Universitäts-Buchhändler, Wien

  • Piraino S, Todaro C, Geraci S, Boero F (1994) Ecology of the bivalve-inhabiting hydroid Eugymnanthea inquilina in the coastal sounds of Taranto (Ionian Sea, SE Italy). Mar Biol 118:695–703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piraino S, Boero F, Aeschbach B, Schmid V (1996) Reversing the life cycle: medusae transforming into polyps and cell transdifferentiation in Turritopsis nutricula (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). Biol Bull 190:302–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piraino S, De Vito D, Schmich J, Bouillon J, Boero F (2004) Reverse development in Cnidaria. Can J Zool 82:1748–1754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell FS (1936) On the hydroid of Laodicea undulata (Forbes and Goodsir). J Mar Biol Assoc UK 20:581–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell FS (1938) The Plymouth offshore medusae fauna. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 22:411–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell FS (1953) The medusae of the British Isles. Anthomedusae, Leptomedusae, Limnomedusae, Trachymedusae and Narcomedusae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid V (1972) Untersuchungen über Dedifferenzierungsvorgänge bei Medusenknospen und Medusen von Podocoryne carnea M Sars. Wilhelm Roux’ Arch Entwicklungsmech Org 169:281–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid V (1992) Transdifferentiation in medusae. Int Rev Cytol 142:213–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt HE (1973) Hydromedusae from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Isr J Zool 22:151–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuchert P (2004) Revision of the European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): families Oceanidae and Pachycordylidae. Rev Suisse Zool 111:315–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spring J, Yanze N, Middel AM, Stierwald M, Gröger H, Schmid V (2000) The mesoderm specification factor twist in the life cycle of jellyfish. Dev Biol 228:363–375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stefani R (1959) Sulla variabilità ecologica di un Idrozoo (Campanularia caliculata Hincks). Boll Zool 26:115–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanze N, Spring J, Schmidli C, Schmid V (2001) Conservation of Hox/ParaHox-related genes in the early development of a cnidarian. Dev Biol 236:89–98

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Werner B (1954) On the development and reproduction of the anthomedusan, Margelopsis haeckeli Hartlaub. Trans NY Acad Sci 16:143–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werner B (1963) Effect of some environmental factors on differentiation and determination in marine Hydrozoa, with a note on their evolutionary significance. Ann NY Acad Sci 105:461–488

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial supports were provided by MURST (60%, COFIN, and FIRB Projects), the Administration of the Province of Lecce, ICRAM (Project “Identificazione e distribuzione delle specie non indigene nel Mediterraneo”), the European Union (Marie Curie contract no. HPMD-CT-2001-00099, and the MARBEF network), the NSF of the USA (PEET project on the Hydrozoa). We are grateful to Cristina Di Camillo for drawings of L. undulata. Special thanks are due to Adam Benovic and Alenka Malej for their kind translation of part of the original paper by Babnik (1948).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università di Lecce, via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    D. De Vito, S. Piraino, J. Schmich, J. Bouillon & F. Boero

Authors
  1. D. De Vito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Piraino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Schmich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Bouillon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. Boero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Piraino.

Additional information

Communicated by R. Cattaneo-Vietti, Genova

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Vito, D., Piraino, S., Schmich, J. et al. Evidence of reverse development in Leptomedusae (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa): the case of Laodicea undulata (Forbes and Goodsir 1851). Marine Biology 149, 339–346 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0182-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0182-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation