Jelly blubber

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Jelly blubber
Blue Blubber Jellyfish IMGP2102.JPG
Jelly blubber in Port Phillip Bay, Australia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Rhizostomeae
Family: Catostylidae
Genus: Catostylus
Species:
C. mosaicus
Binomial name
Catostylus mosaicus
Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

Catostylus mosaicus is also known as the Jelly blubber or Blue blubber jellyfish. [1] The jelly blubber is distinguishable by its color, which ranges from light blue to a dark blue or purple, and its large (250-300mm [2] ), rounded bell which pulses in a staccato rhythm. [1] It occurs along the coastline of Eastern Australia in estuaries and shallow bays, and often blooms to high abundance. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

Blubber Jellyfish at Monterey Bay Aquarium showing two of the color variations (blue and brown) possible in this species. Blubber Jellyfish 1.jpg
Blubber Jellyfish at Monterey Bay Aquarium showing two of the color variations (blue and brown) possible in this species.

C. mosaicus is a member of the class Sycphozoa and order Rhizostomae, which distinguishes them as possessing eight oral arms instead of tentacles. There are thought to be two monophyletic clades of the Castolysus mosaicus found in Eastern Australia: C. mosaicus mosaicus and C. mosaicus conservitus. [4] The two differ in mitochondrial DNA, color, dimension, and bell depth. [4] C mosaicus mosaicus is found in South Wales and southern Queenland, and can be distinguished due to their small or nonexistent papillae and larger bell diameter. [4] C. mosaicus conservitus occupies the Bass Strait and can be distinguished by conspicuous papillae, blue or white color, and smaller bell. [4]

Blubber jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's "Jellyfish Experience" Blubber Jellyfish.jpg
Blubber jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's "Jellyfish Experience"

Morphology

Jellyfish in the Rhizostomae order such as the Catostylus mosaicus are distinguishible by their unique morphology, characterized by a lack of tentacles. [5] Instead of these tentacles, their bodies are composed of four oral lobes and eight arms that attach at the center of the bell. [5] The bell of the jelly blubber is spherical in shape, and its feeding structures make up a greater proportion of its body than in many other species of jellyfish. [5] Because of their unique body shape, C. mosaicus are known to utilize jet propulsion, triggered by the contracting and relaxing patterns of their bell. [5]

Located on the arms of the C. mosaicus are nematocysts, or stinging cells. Nematocysts are utilized for defense as well as to immobilize prey, and because they vary between species, are often used for identification. [6] Different types of nematocysts are specialized to catch different types of prey, and may be a causal factor for the specialized diets seen in jellyfish [6] Catolystus mosaicus have four different types of nematocysts (Oval Isorhizae, pear-shaped Isorhizae, Rhopaloids, and Birhopaloids), distributed in relatively high abundance, that allow them to capture prey and defend themselves. [6]

Habitat

Blue Jelly Blubber off the coast of Randwick, Australia Catostylus mosaicus 284314077.jpg
Blue Jelly Blubber off the coast of Randwick, Australia

C. mosaicus is the most common large medusae along the coastline of Eastern Australia, and can be found along the Malay Peninsula. They inhabit estuaries, semi enclosed lagoons, and shallow bays, and can form large, dense blooms. [7] C. mosaicus thrive in high salinity environments, and events of lowered salinity can inhibit planula settlement and impair feeding ability of medusae. [8] Additionally, rapid changes in salinity can impair osmoregulation, causing the jellyfish to swell or shrink rapidly. [8] As a result, C. mosaicus resides predominantly in higher salinity areas of estuaries. [8] C. mosaicus additionally influences the estuaries in which they reside through recycling of inorganic nutrients, providing nutrition for primary producers. [9] Due to lower amounts of symbiotic photosynthetic zooxanthellae, C. mosaicus is able to recycle higher amounts of inorganics than many other estuarine-dwelling Sychphozoa. [9]

Ecology

The Castolysus mosaicus feeds primarily on zooplankton, specifically mollusc veligers, copepods, and copepod nauplii. [10] They generally capture fewer gelatinous zooplankton, as well as later, more developed stages of fish larvae and crab megalopae, as these animals are better selected to evade capture. [10] C. mosaicus can form large blooms in the regions it inhabits, which can both their competition as well as their zooplankton prey. [10] These blooms can negatively impact zooplankton which are consumed at higher rates or forced to expend more energy to avoid capture, leading to limitations in feeding and survival. [10] In addition, competition with C. mosaicus for food may lead to declines in populations for competitors such as fish. C. mosaicus populations are controlled by predation by sea turtles as well as jellyfish-eating fish, including tuna, butterfish, sunfish, and spiny dogfish [11]

Reproduction and Life History

Blue Blubber Jelly off the coast of Koumala, Australia Catostylus mosaicus 14234492.jpg
Blue Blubber Jelly off the coast of Koumala, Australia

The life cycle of Castolysis moscaicus is similar to that of other members of the order Rhizostomae. These jelly blubbers alternate life stages between a sexually reproducing free-swiming medusae stage and an asexually reproducing benthic polyp stage. [12] The polyp stage reproduces asexually, while the medusa stage of the C. mosaicus reproduces sexually. The medusae are gonochoristic, with a 1:1 ratio of female to male. [13] After fertilization, the eggs of the C. mosaicus develop into elongated, pelagic planula larvae and settle to the benthos to develop into their polyp stage. [12] The polyp reproduces asexually through strobilation which produces an Ephyra, a juvenile stage that matures into the medusa [12]

Symbiosis

C. mosaicus are known to have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae. This algae lives within the host and uses the sun to produce energy for itself as well as its C. mosaicus host. This energy makes up a small proportion of the diet of the jellyfish, and C. mosaicus is known to have less of this symbiotic zooxanthellae than many other Sychphozoa. [14]

C. mosaicus are also known to have relationships with other species, including fishes, spider crabs, shrimp, phyllosoma larvae, portunid crabs, and amphipods. [15] A commensal relationship with the copepod species Paramacrochiron maximum has been observed. [15] This copepod exists in high abundance on the oral arms of the jellyfish, and it is thought that the copepod consumes mucus produced by its jellyfish host. [15]

Human Interactions

Blue Blubber Jelly in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia Catostylus mosaicus 263236251.jpg
Blue Blubber Jelly in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia

C. mosaicus and humans influence one another in a few different ways. Large blooms of jellyfish in coastal areas can interrupt recreation and their arms may produce a mild but irritating sting. [16] Due to their size and high abundance, C. mosaicus is harvested for human consumption, and is considered a delicacy in some countries, including China and Japan. [17]

Finally, the venom of C. mosaicus and other Sychphozoans is being investigated in terms of potential anticancer effects. The cnidocytes of C. mosaicus hold venom which may have apoptopic effects on A549 cells, the same cells linked to pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer. [18] Further study and isolation of these cnidocytes may lead to anticancer innovations [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cnidaria</span> Aquatic animal phylum having cnydocytes

Cnidaria is a phylum under kingdom Animalia containing over 11,000 species of aquatic animals found both in fresh water and marine environments, including jellyfish, hydroids, sea anemones, corals and some of the smallest marine parasites. Their distinguishing features are a decentralized nervous system distributed throughout a gelatinous body and the presence of cnidocytes or cnidoblasts, specialized cells with ejectable flagella used mainly for envenomation and capturing prey. Their bodies consist of mesoglea, a non-living, jelly-like substance, sandwiched between two layers of epithelium that are mostly one cell thick. Cnidarians are also some of the only animals that can reproduce both sexually and asexually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jellyfish</span> Soft-bodied, aquatic invertebrates

Jellyfish, also known as sea jellies, are the medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the subphylum Medusozoa, which is a major part of the phylum Cnidaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scyphozoa</span> Class of marine cnidarians, true jellyfish

The Scyphozoa are an exclusively marine class of the phylum Cnidaria, referred to as the true jellyfish.

<i>Aurelia aurita</i> Species of jellyfish

Aurelia aurita is a species of the family Ulmaridae. All species in the genus are very similar, and it is difficult to identify Aurelia medusae without genetic sampling; most of what follows applies equally to all species of the genus.

<i>Chrysaora quinquecirrha</i> Species of jellyfish

The Atlantic sea nettle, also called the East Coast sea nettle in the United States, is a species of jellyfish that inhabits the Atlantic coast of the United States. Historically it was confused with several Chrysaora species, resulting in incorrect reports of C. quinquecirrha from other parts of the Atlantic and other oceans. Most recently, C. chesapeakei of estuaries on the Atlantic coast of the United States, as well as the Gulf of Mexico, was only fully recognized as separate from C. quinquecirrha in 2017. It is smaller than the Pacific sea nettle, and has more variable coloration, but is typically pale, pinkish or yellowish, often with radiating more deeply colored stripes on the exumbrella, especially near the margin.

<i>Aequorea victoria</i> Species of hydrozoan

Aequorea victoria, also sometimes called the crystal jelly, is a bioluminescent hydrozoan jellyfish, or hydromedusa, that is found off the west coast of North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jellyfish Lake</span> Marine lake in Palau

Jellyfish Lake is a marine lake located on Eil Malk island in Palau. Eil Malk is part of the Rock Islands, a group of small, rocky, mostly uninhabited islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu. There are about 70 other marine lakes located throughout the Rock Islands. Millions of golden jellyfish migrate horizontally across the lake daily.

<i>Pelagia noctiluca</i> Species of cnidarian

Pelagia noctiluca is a jellyfish in the family Pelagiidae and the only currently recognized species in the genus Pelagia. It is typically known in English as the mauve stinger, but other common names are purple-striped jelly, purple stinger, purple people eater, purple jellyfish, luminous jellyfish and night-light jellyfish. In Greek, pelagia means "(she) of the sea", from pelagos "sea, open sea"; in Latin noctiluca is the combining form of nox, "night"", and lux, "light"; thus, Pelagia noctiluca can be described as a marine organism with the ability to glow in the dark (bioluminescence). It is found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas, although it is suspected that records outside the North Atlantic region, which includes the Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico, represent closely related but currently unrecognized species.

<i>Phacellophora camtschatica</i> Species of jellyfish

Phacellophora camtschatica, commonly known as the fried egg jellyfish or egg-yolk jellyfish, is a very large jellyfish in the family Phacellophoridae. This species can be easily identified by the yellow coloration in the center of its body which closely resembles an egg yolk, hence its common name. Some individuals can have a bell close to 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter, and most individuals have 16 clusters of up to a few dozen tentacles, each up to 6 m (20 ft) long. A smaller jellyfish, Cotylorhiza tuberculata, typically found in warmer water, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, is also popularly called a fried egg jellyfish. Also, P. camtschatica is sometimes confused with the Lion's mane jellyfish.

<i>Phyllorhiza punctata</i> Species of jellyfish

Phyllorhiza punctata is a species of jellyfish, also known as the floating bell, Australian spotted jellyfish, brown jellyfish or the white-spotted jellyfish. It is native to the western Pacific from Australia to Japan, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. It feeds primarily on zooplankton. P. punctata generally can reach up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in bell diameter, but in October 2007, one 74 cm (29 in) wide, perhaps the largest ever recorded, was found on Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

<i>Cotylorhiza</i> Genus of jellyfishes

Cotylorhiza is a genus of true jellyfish from the family Cepheidae. The genus is found in the central-east Atlantic, Mediterranean, and western Indian Ocean.

<i>Aurelia</i> (cnidarian) Genus of jellyfish

Aurelia is a genus of jellyfish that are commonly called moon jellies, which are in the class Scyphozoa. There are currently 25 accepted species and many that are still not formally described.

<i>Cyanea</i> (jellyfish) Genus of jellyfishes

Cyanea is a genus of jellyfish, primarily found in northern waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and southern Pacific waters of Australia and New Zealand, there are also several boreal, polar, tropical and sub-tropical species. Commonly found in and associated with rivers and fjords. The same genus name has been given to a genus of plants of the Hawaiian lobelioids, an example of a parahomonym.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catostylidae</span> Family of jellyfishes

Catostylidae is a family of jellyfish, their common name is fat-armed jellies. Members of this family are characterized by their thick, sausage-like oral arms. Members of the family Catostylidae are small marine jellyfish with domed bells. The eight short oral arms are broad and three-sided. These jellies do sting but usually only leave minor burns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmet jellyfish</span> Species of jellyfish

The helmet jellyfish, sometimes called the merchant-cap, is a luminescent, red-colored jellyfish of the deep sea, belonging to the order Coronatae of the phylum Cnidaria. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Periphylla and is one of the rare examples in Scyphozoa which life-cycle lacks a polyp stage. This species is photophobic and inhabits deeper parts of the oceans to avoid light. It may be found at the surface on dark nights.

<i>Rhopilema verrilli</i> Species of jellyfish

Rhopilema verrilli, or mushroom cap jellyfish, is a species of jellyfish in the family Rhizostomatidae. They are cnidarian invertebrates distinguished by their mushroom-shaped medusae. The species does not have any tentacles; however, they still have stinging cells, called nematocysts, within their bells, which can produce mild stings to humans.

<i>Chrysaora plocamia</i> Species of jellyfish

The South American sea nettle is a species of jellyfish from the family Pelagiidae. It is found from the Pacific coast of Peru, south along Chile's coast to Tierra del Fuego, and north along the Atlantic coast of Argentina, with a few records from Uruguay. Despite its common name, it is not the only sea nettle in South America. For example, C. lactea is another type of sea nettle in this region. Historically, C. plocamia was often confused with C. hysoscella, a species now known to be restricted to the northeast Atlantic. C. plocamia is a large jellyfish, up to 1 m in bell diameter, although most mature individuals only are 25–40 cm (10–16 in).

<i>Versuriga</i> Genus of cnidarians

Versuriga is a monotypic genus of jellyfishes belonging to the monotypic family Versurigidae. The only species is Versuriga anadyomene. This species is rare, only having been sighted in a limited region. However, it can be identified by its gradient-like coloration, as well as its umbrella shaped bell, which is common amongst other members of the class Scyphozoa. This species is important for many reasons, ranging from ecological interactions to socioeconomic benefits. Notably, Versuriga is able to form commensalistic relationships with other organisms, impacting biodiversity, as well as being a food source for humans and other predators.

<i>Crambionella</i> Genus of cnidarians

Crambionella is a genus of Cnidarians belonging to the family Catostylidae. The genus is distinguishable from other Castostylid species by a terminal club on each oral arm without filaments and a canal system featuring a narrow, wide-meshed intra-circular network of interconnected vessels. These vessels solely communicate with the ring canal and not with the radial canals. Four species belong to the genus Crambionella : C. annandalei, C. helmbiru, C. orsini and C. stuhlmanni. C. orsini is the type species for the genus.

<i>Aurelia coerulea</i> Species of jellyfish

Aurelia coerulea or Asian moon jelly is a species of moon jelly in the genus Aurelia. This species is native to the seas off Japan, China, Korea, and California, as well as the Mediterranean and other temperate seas. and they can also be found in coastal areas of China, Korea, California, the Mediterranean and other temperate seas. It is particularly abundant in artificial habitats and sheltered regions. It has a very high reproductive rate which can cause blooming events. A.coerulea blooming causes problems such as impairing fisheries, clogging the nuclear power plants and disrupting the local zooplankton abundance. The chemical compounds the species secretes as a self-defense mechanism can be used for pharmaceutical purposes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Blue Blubber Jelly". National Aquarium. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  2. ↑ Loveridge, Alexandra; Pitt, Kylie A.; Lucas, Cathy H.; Warnken, Jan (June 2021). "Extreme changes in salinity drive population dynamics of Catostylus mosaicus medusae in a modified estuary". Marine Environmental Research. 168: 105306. Bibcode:2021MarER.16805306L. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105306. ISSN   0141-1136. PMID   33839400.
  3. ↑ Browne, J. G.; Kingsford, M. J. (2005-02-24). "A commensal relationship between the scyphozoan medusae Catostylus mosaicus and the copepod Paramacrochiron maximum". Marine Biology. 146 (6): 1157–1168. Bibcode:2005MarBi.146.1157B. doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1517-1. ISSN   0025-3162.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dawson, Michael N (June 2005). "Morphologic and molecular redescription of Catostylus mosaicus conservativus (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae: Catostylidae) from south-east Australia". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 85 (3): 723–731. Bibcode:2005JMBUK..85..723D. doi:10.1017/s002531540501163x. ISSN   0025-3154.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Neil, Thomas R.; Askew, Graham N. (2018-01-01). "Jet-paddling jellies: swimming performance in the Rhizostomeae jellyfishCatostylus mosaicus(Quoy and Gaimard, 1824)". Journal of Experimental Biology. 221 (Pt 24). doi: 10.1242/jeb.191148 . ISSN   1477-9145. PMID   30348647.
  6. 1 2 3 Peach, Meredith B.; Pitt, Kylie A. (June 2005). "Morphology of the nematocysts of the medusae of two scyphozoans, Catostylus mosaicus and Phyllorhiza punctata (Rhizostomeae): implications for capture of prey". Invertebrate Biology. 124 (2): 98–108. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2005.00012.x. ISSN   1077-8306.
  7. ↑ Browne, J. G.; Kingsford, M. J. (2005-02-24). "A commensal relationship between the scyphozoan medusae Catostylus mosaicus and the copepod Paramacrochiron maximum". Marine Biology. 146 (6): 1157–1168. Bibcode:2005MarBi.146.1157B. doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1517-1. ISSN   0025-3162.
  8. 1 2 3 Loveridge, Alexandra; Pitt, Kylie A.; Lucas, Cathy H.; Warnken, Jan (June 2021). "Extreme changes in salinity drive population dynamics of Catostylus mosaicus medusae in a modified estuary". Marine Environmental Research. 168: 105306. Bibcode:2021MarER.16805306L. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105306. ISSN   0141-1136. PMID   33839400.
  9. 1 2 Pitt, K.A.; Koop, K.; Rissik, D. (February 2005). "Contrasting contributions to inorganic nutrient recycling by the co-occurring jellyfishes, Catostylus mosaicus and Phyllorhiza punctata (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae)". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 315 (1): 71–86. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2004.09.007. ISSN   0022-0981.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Carr, E.F.; Pitt, K.A. (January 2008). "Behavioural responses of zooplankton to the presence of predatory jellyfish". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 354 (1): 101–110. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2007.10.012. hdl: 10072/21297 . ISSN   0022-0981.
  11. ↑ "Sea Wonder: Blue Blubber Jelly". National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  12. 1 2 3 Pitt, K. A. (2000-03-28). "Life history and settlement preferences of the edible jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae)". Marine Biology. 136 (2): 269–279. Bibcode:2000MarBi.136..269P. doi:10.1007/s002270050685. ISSN   0025-3162.
  13. ↑ Pitt, K. A.; Kingsford, M. J. (2000-12-12). "Reproductive biology of the edible jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus (Rhizostomeae)". Marine Biology. 137 (5–6): 791–799. Bibcode:2000MarBi.137..791P. doi:10.1007/s002270000399. ISSN   0025-3162.
  14. ↑ Pitt, K.A.; Koop, K.; Rissik, D. (February 2005). "Contrasting contributions to inorganic nutrient recycling by the co-occurring jellyfishes, Catostylus mosaicus and Phyllorhiza punctata (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae)". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 315 (1): 71–86. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2004.09.007. ISSN   0022-0981.
  15. 1 2 3 Browne, J. G.; Kingsford, M. J. (2005-02-24). "A commensal relationship between the scyphozoan medusae Catostylus mosaicus and the copepod Paramacrochiron maximum". Marine Biology. 146 (6): 1157–1168. Bibcode:2005MarBi.146.1157B. doi:10.1007/s00227-004-1517-1. ISSN   0025-3162.
  16. ↑ Peach, Meredith B.; Pitt, Kylie A. (June 2005). "Morphology of the nematocysts of the medusae of two scyphozoans, Catostylus mosaicus and Phyllorhiza punctata (Rhizostomeae): implications for capture of prey". Invertebrate Biology. 124 (2): 98–108. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2005.00012.x. ISSN   1077-8306.
  17. ↑ "Sea Wonder: Blue Blubber Jelly". National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  18. 1 2 Zare, Afshin; Afshar, Alireza; Khoradmehr, Arezoo; Baghban, Neda; Mohebbi, Gholamhossein; Barmak, Alireza; Daneshi, Adel; Bargahi, Afshar; Nabipour, Iraj; Almasi-Turk, Sahar; Arandian, Alireza; Zibaii, Mohammad Ismail; Latifi, Hamid; Tamadon, Amin (2023-03-07). "Chemical Compositions and Experimental and Computational Modeling of the Anticancer Effects of Cnidocyte Venoms of Jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda and Catostylus mosaicus on Human Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells". Marine Drugs. 21 (3): 168. doi: 10.3390/md21030168 . ISSN   1660-3397. PMC   10057638 . PMID   36976217.
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