Recruitment and growth of medusae of the schyphozoan jellyfish, Catostylus mosaicus

Pitt, Kylie A., and Kingsford, Michael J. (2003) Recruitment and growth of medusae of the schyphozoan jellyfish, Catostylus mosaicus. Marine and Freshwater Research, 54 (2). pp. 117-125.

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Abstract

The timing of recruitment and growth of medusae of the commercially harvested jellyfish, Catostylus mosaicus (Scyphozoa), was examined over a period of 8 years at Botany Bay and 2.5 years at Lake Illawarra in New South Wales, Australia. Recruitment events occurred sporadically during December and between March and July at Botany Bay and between February and July at Lake Illawarra. Recruitment did not occur during late winter or spring at either location, although small numbers of recruit medusae could potentially occur during any time of year. Despite anecdotal observations that recruitment sometimes occurred after periods of heavy rain, we found no correlation between the timing of recruitment and rainfall in Botany Bay over a period of 8 years. Cohort analyses indicated growth of small medusae was very rapid (max. 4.81 mm day–1), with growth rates decreasing as medusae grew larger. Medusae appeared to grow faster at Botany Bay than Lake Illawarra. A conservative estimate indicated medusae of C. mosaicus can live for up to 13 months.

Item ID: 10117
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1448-6059
Keywords: longevity, physical forcing, population dynamics, rainfall, marine science
Date Deposited: 14 Apr 2010 23:48
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 50%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060308 Life Histories @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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