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Population dynamics of Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae and medusae in Jiaozhou Bay, China

  • CHINA JELLYFISH PROJECT
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Abstract

The scyphozoan Aurelia aurita (Linnaeus) s. l., is a cosmopolitan species-complex which blooms seasonally in a variety of coastal and shelf sea environments around the world. We hypothesized that ephyrae of Aurelia sp.1 are released from the inner part of the Jiaozhou Bay, China when water temperature is below 15°C in late autumn and winter. The seasonal occurrence, growth, and variation of the scyphomedusa Aurelia sp.1 were investigated in Jiaozhou Bay from January 2011 to December 2011. Ephyrae occurred from May through June with a peak abundance of 2.38 ± 0.56 ind/m3 in May, while the temperature during this period ranged from 12 to 18°C. The distribution of ephyrae was mainly restricted to the coastal area of the bay, and the abundance was higher in the dock of the bay than at the other inner bay stations. Young medusae derived from ephyrae with a median diameter of 9.74 ± 1.7 mm were present from May 22. Growth was rapid from May 22 to July 2 with a maximum daily growth rate of 39%. Median diameter of the medusae was 161.80 ± 18.39 mm at the beginning of July. In August, a high proportion of deteriorated specimens was observed and the median diameter decreased. The highest average abundance is 0.62 ± 1.06 ind/km2 in Jiaozhou Bay in August. The abundance of Aurelia sp.1 medusae was low from September and then decreased to zero. It is concluded that water temperature is the main driver regulating the life cycle of Aurelia sp.1 in Jiaozhou Bay.

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Acknowledgments

Assistance given by members of the Jiaozhou Bay Marine Ecosystem Research Station and the Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences is greatly appreciated. We thank the anonymous referees for their constructive criticisms. This research was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program No. 2011CB403601), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41121064) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41230963).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Yan-Tao Wang & Song Sun

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yan-Tao Wang

  3. Jiaozhou Bay Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Song Sun

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  1. Yan-Tao Wang
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  2. Song Sun
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Correspondence to Song Sun.

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

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Wang, YT., Sun, S. Population dynamics of Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae and medusae in Jiaozhou Bay, China. Hydrobiologia 754, 147–155 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2021-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2021-3

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