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Jellyfish Blooms: Ecological and Societal Importance pp 89–95Cite as

Effects of low dissolved oxygen on survival and asexual reproduction of scyphozoan polyps (Chrysaora quinquecirrha)

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Part of the Developments in Hydrobiology book series (DIHY,volume 155)

Abstract

Hypoxic conditions are common in many coastal environments such as Chesapeake Bay. While medusae appear to be quite tolerant of low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, the effects of hypoxia on the benthic polyp stages are unknown. Chrysaora quinquecirrha (DeSor) polyps, and were subjected to 5 DO treatments (air-saturated [control], 3.5, 2.5, 1.5 and 0.5 mg 1-1) in the laboratory. Polyp survival and development were documented over 24 d. Virtually no mortality occurred in any treatment during the first 5 d. Total polyp mortality after 24 d was 59.3% at the lowest DO concentration, whereas <3% mortality was observed in the air-saturated treatment. Formation of stolons and strobilae occurred in all treatments, however, the proportions of polyps undergoing stolonation and strobilation were significantly greater in all DO concentrations above 0.5 mg 1-1. Polyp encystment was not observed in any treatment over the course of the 24 d experiment. These results indicate that polyps can survive and asexually propagate even during prolonged exposure to hypoxic conditions.

Keywords

  • asexual reproduction
  • Chesapeake Bay
  • hypoxia
  • jellyfish
  • survival
  • polyp

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, 21613-0775, USA

    Robert H. Condon

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

    Jennifer E. Purcell

  3. Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Mary Beth Decker

Authors
  1. Robert H. Condon
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  2. Mary Beth Decker
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  3. Jennifer E. Purcell
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Lab., University of Maryland, Cambridge, MD, USA

    J. E. Purcell

  2. Dauphin Island Sea Lab., Dauphin Island, AL, USA

    W. M. Graham

  3. Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Ghent, Belgium

    H. J. Dumont

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Condon, R.H., Decker, M.B., Purcell, J.E. (2001). Effects of low dissolved oxygen on survival and asexual reproduction of scyphozoan polyps (Chrysaora quinquecirrha). In: Purcell, J.E., Graham, W.M., Dumont, H.J. (eds) Jellyfish Blooms: Ecological and Societal Importance. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 155. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0722-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0722-1_8

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