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The Role of Temperature in Survival of the Polyp Stage of the Tropical Rhizostome Jelly®Sh Cassiopea Xamachana

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Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology,
222 (1998) 79–91

L

The role of temperature in survival of the polyp stage of the tropical rhizostome jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana

*
William K. Fitt , Kristin Costley

Institute of Ecology, Bioscience 711, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA

Received 27 September 1996; received in revised form 21 April 1997; accepted 27 May 1997

Abstract

The life cycle of the tropical jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana involves alternation between a polyp (5 scyphistoma) and a medusa, the latter usually resting bell-down on a sand or mud substratum. The scyphistoma and newly strobilated medusa (5 ephyra) are found only during the summer and early fall in South Florida and not during the winter, while the medusae are found year around. New medusae originate as ephyrae, strobilated by the polyp, in late summer and fall. Laboratory experiments showed that nematocyst function, and the ability of larvae to settle and metamorphose change little during exposure to temperatures between 158C and up to 338C. However, tentacle length decreased and ability to transfer captured food to the mouth was disrupted at temperatures # 188C. Unlike temperate-zone species of scyphozoans, which usually over-winter in the polyp or podocyst form when medusae disappear, this tropical species has cold-sensitive scyphistomae and more temperature-tolerant medusae. B.V.
1998 Elsevier Science
Keywords: Scyphozoa; Jellyfish; Cassiopea; Temperature; Life history

1. Introduction

The rhizostome medusae of Cassiopea xamachana are found throughout the Caribbean Sea, with their northern limit of distribution on the southern tip of Florida. Unlike most scyphozoans these jellyfish are seldom seen swimming, and instead lie pulsating bell-down on sandy or muddy substrata in mangroves or soft bottom bay habitats, giving rise to the common names ‘‘mangrove jellyfish’’ or ‘‘upside-down jellyfish’’. Medusae obtain a portion of their carbon requirements from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, also known by the generic term ‘‘zooxanthellae’’ (see Hofmann and

*Corresponding author.

  • 0022-0981/98/$19.00
  • 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

PII S0022-0981(97)00139-1 80

W.K. Fitt, K. Costley / J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 222 (1998) 79–91

Kremer, 1981; Trench, 1993). Unlike zooxanthellate corals, however, only the largest Cassiopea xamachana are able to theoretically obtain all of the carbon necessary to fuel their respiratory metabolism from their zooxanthellae (Vodenichar, 1995), and most medusae must obtain a portion of their nutrients from external feeding and possibly absorption of dissolved nutrients (Schlichter, 1982).
The life cycle of Cassiopea involves alternation between a medusoid stage and a polyp (5 scyphistoma) and has been widely studied (Bigelow, 1900; Smith, 1936; Hofmann et al., 1996). The medusae are dioecious; the eggs in the female presumably fertilized by sperm released by nearby males. The fertilized eggs are transported to specialized knob-shaped tentacles near the center of the female, where they develop into larvae which hatch out shortly after acquiring competence to metamorphose. The planulae attach permanently to hard substrata during settlement and then metamorphose into a polyp with tentacles. These scyphistomae can reproduce asexually by budding when food is plentiful, and the buds settle and form scyphistomae. Scyphistomae strobilate, producing medusae, only after they acquire certain species of Symbiodinium and when temperatures are higher than 208C (Hofmann et al., 1978, cf. Rahat and Adar, 1980). Whereas the medusae are always found with zooxanthellae, larvae and newlysettled scyphistomae are aposymbiotic. Each new scyphistomae must acquire zooxanthellae in order to complete the life cycle. They apparently acquire zooxanthellae from the surrounding seawater or in conjunction with feeding (Fitt, 1992).
While there has been little monitoring of populations of Cassiopea spp. over time, there are many anecdotal accounts of large numbers of these medusae appearing in areas near centers of human population. For instance, many canals and near-shore areas in the Florida Keys have become filled with adult medusae during the past ten years where apparently few if any existed before. These observations, coupled with the finding that carbon from zooxanthellae in most medusae of Cassiopea xamachana cannot provide all of the energy necessary for basic respiratory metabolic needs (Vodenichar, 1995), suggest that high dissolved and/or particulate nutrients may be augmenting growth and successful recruitment in high-nutrient habitats (LaPointe et al., 1990; Mackey and Smail, 1996). Similarly, large populations of medusae of Cotylorgiza tuberculata and Pelagia noctiluca become a nuisance in bays and areas near coastal cities in the Mediterranean off Greece during the summer months, but disappear during the winter months (Goy et al., 1989; Kikinger, 1992). The scyphistomae of Cotylorgiza tuberculata are thought to survive the wintertime conditions, strobilating medusae when the temperatures rise in the spring. Such is also the case with Aurelia aurita, Cyanea

capillata, and Chrysaora quinquecirrha, where exposure to low temperatures for a

critical amount of time is thought to be required for scyphistomae to strobilate (see Spangenberg, 1967; Loeb, 1972; Calder, 1974). The cannonball jellyfish, Stomolophus meleagris, a temperate-zone rhizostome common during the spring and summer months on the East Coast of the United States, also has scyphistomae that survive the winter (Calder, 1982). Thus, most temperate scyphozoan species appear to tolerate seasonal low temperatures in the polyp morphology, or sometimes as podocysts during the coldest part of the winter (i.e., Calder, 1982), while thriving during the spring, summer and fall as either medusae or scyphistomae.
In this study we investigate physiological factors important in controlling the life

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81

cycle of Cassiopea spp., while correlating the seasonal occurrence of scyphistomae to the seasonal changes in size structure of a population of medusae of Cassiopea xamachana in the Florida Keys.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Maintenance of animals

Stock cultures of scyphistomae of Cassiopea xamachana were maintained at room temperature (26628C) in Instant Ocean seawater (30 ppt). The scyphistomae were fed at 3-day intervals during both maintenance and experiments, and their water was changed after each feeding on the day of feeding. Unless otherwise noted, all animals were moved directly from maintenance conditions into glass Petri dishes which were placed inside the temperature-controlled water baths at the beginning of the experimental period. Measurements of seawater temperatures in the glass Petri dishes showed that transition to experimental temperatures occurred in the form of slow heat transfer through the glass Petri dishes. It took approximately 1 h for seawater in the Petri dishes to change 58C.

2.2. Seasonal presence of scyphistomae and changes in size of medusae

The presence or absence of the scyphistomae polyps was monitored from a mangrove site on Grassy Key and in a man-made swimming lagoon at the Ocean Reef Resort on Key Largo in the Florida Keys over a 5-year period between 1989 and 1994. The substratum on which the scyphistomae were found was noted. Medusa size (diameter) was measured approximately every 2 months during 1992–1993 from 50–100 individuals sampled from approximately the same 1 m2 location near a mangrove island on Grassy Key. The presence or absence of developing eggs on large females was assessed seasonally, by manually checking for eggs in all females encountered in conjunction with the seasonal size measurements.

2.3. Settlement experiments

Dark red mangrove leaves (n 5 10), a natural substratum for scyphistomae, were collected during different seasons and placed into sterile cell culture dishes with 10–20 larvae of Cassiopea xamachana for 1 wk. Previous research has shown that a peptide found in degrading mangrove leaves induces larvae to settle on the leaves (Hofmann et al., 1996). Settlement of larvae on mangrove leaf, as well as the plastic culture dish, was noted. All leaf experiments were performed at room temperature, 26628C.
In order to quantify the effects of seawater temperature on settlement, larvae of
Cassiopea xamachana were placed in Petri dishes of seawater containing known amounts of artificial inducer at temperatures of 158C, 208C, 268C, and 338C for 72 h. Metamorphosis was induced by addition of 5, 10, or 25 mM of the artificial peptide inducer Z-Gly-Pro-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ala (Sigma) to 20–30 larvae in 1 ml of seawater

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containing antibiotics (Fitt et al., 1992). After 24 h the percentage of larvae attached at each temperature was recorded. Control larvae were maintained at each experimental temperature without the addition of the peptide.

2.4. Feeding experiments

The effect of temperature on tentacle extension and general polyp appearance was investigated in another experiment. Mean tentacle length per polyp was determined from the average length of four tentacles from each of six scyphistomae at the beginning of the experiment and at 6-day intervals. Measurements were made with an ocular micrometer. After the initial measurements at 268C, six scyphistomae were placed in each Petri dish in water baths set at 188C, 208C, 308C, 338C, and 368C. Water temperatures took about 1 h to stabilize at the new temperatures. Four tentacles from each polyp were measured after 6 days. The 188C and 208C baths were then decreased to 15 and 178C respectively, and the 338C bath was increased to 358C, and then to 388C. After another 6 days, or 24 h for animals in 388C seawater, the lengths of four tentacles from each polyp were measured again and change in mean length was calculated. In order to control for the change in tentacle length in response to the multiple temperatures tested above, sets of six replicate scyphistomae were maintained for 6 days at constant experimental temperature (18, 20, 30, and 338C), in addition to the control temperature of 268C. Four tentacles from each animal were measured at the beginning and after 6 days.
Nematocyst function was assayed using tentacles of scyphistomae that were maintained at temperatures ranging from 68C to 388C. After 24, 48, and 72 h at temperature three polyps from each experimental temperature were macerated on microscope slides. Acetic acid (5%) was added to the slides, and ability of nematocysts to discharge was monitored microscopically. Another assay of nematocyst function was ability of scyphistomae to capture newly-hatched nauplii of Artemia. Tentacular capture and ingestion of Artemia by scyphistomae was observed in animals maintained for 72 h at temperatures ranging from 10–368C. Prey capture and ingestion were recorded.

2.5. Measurement of metabolic rate

The respiration rate of twenty scyphistomae was determined from measurements using a Yellow Springs Instrument (YSI) oxygen electrode at 268C, and following a 30-min acclimation interval between temperatures, also at 228C, 208C, 188C, 158C, and 128C. Rates were also determined from a second set of twenty scyphistomae maintained at room temperature, with measurements made successively at 268C, 308C, 328C, 348C, and 368C after 30 min acclimation periods.

3. Results

3.1. Field observations

Scyphistomae were found on the undersides of mangrove leaves, sometimes on leaves

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83

of other trees, and rarely on dead blades of turtle grass Thalassia during the mid and late summers of 1990–1996. However, no scyphistomae were observed at these sites between late November and early June. Large numbers of the benthic-dwelling ephyra and strobilating scyphistomae were present from late June and into the fall. There were no ephyra seen during the winter or spring. The average size of medusae in 1992–1993 from the Grassy Key site increased between August and January, at which time it leveled off at 5–7 cm diameter (Fig. 1). The average diameter decreased again with the strobilation of new medusae late the next summer.
Though medusae were always seen at Grassy Key throughout the year, there were three instances when some individuals looked stressed and abnormal. In December 1991, following the passage of a severe cold front through Florida, numerous medusae had distended tentacles and asymmetric bells. The water temperature in the shallow seagrass beds surrounding adjacent to mangrove islands at Grassy Key was 12–148C. Though the population density of medusae was obviously less than the previous fall, it was not clear if temperature or other environmental factors were responsible for the decrease. An example of the rapid decreases in temperature that occur on the shallow seagrass– mangrove flats where the jellyfish live during the passage of a cold front is given in Fig. 2. In August of 1992, 1993 and 1996 many medusae on a shallow seagrass–mangrove flat at Grassy Key appeared bleached with clear gelatinous bells and tentacles containing less than 20% of the normal density of zooxanthellae. Afternoon water temperatures of 36–378C on the bottom were recorded on September 5, 1993 and in late summer 1996 (Fig. 2), and many individuals had holes through their bells or bells separated from the tentacles.
All female medusae ( . 5 cm diameter) carried developing eggs during the summer

Fig. 1. Size–frequency distribution of medusae of Cassiopea xamachana from Grassy Key over the course of a year. 84

W.K. Fitt, K. Costley / J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 222 (1998) 79–91

Fig. 2. Temperature records from shallow (ca. 0.2 m) seagrass–mangrove flats in Florida Bay near Grassy Key, 1996. Note daily temperature variation, with rates of change sometimes reaching 28C per hour. (A) Late summer. (B) Late fall.

and fall, while less than half had eggs during the winter months (Table 1). The only times eggs were difficult to find on female medusae were a week to two weeks following cold fronts that pass through South Florida during the winter and early spring, and a

W.K. Fitt, K. Costley / J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 222 (1998) 79–91

85
Table 1 Presence of developing larvae of Cassiopea xamachana on mature female medusae ( . ca. 7 cm diameter) and ability of larvae to metamorphose on mangrove leaves found in the same environment as the adult medusae

  • Date
  • Percent of
  • Settlement and

female medusae with developing larvae metamorphosis on mangrove leaves

Summer Fall Winter Spring

a

100 100

1111
, 50a

100a
One to two weeks following the passage of severe cold fronts through South Florida the percentage of mature females with developing larvae decreased, sometimes to 0.

week to two weeks following the close passage of a hurricane with westerly winds that brought masses of rotting seagrasses onshore during August 1996.

3.2. Settlement and metamorphosis

Larvae settled and metamorphosed on natural and artificial substrata during all seasons (Table 1).
Most larvae introduced to seawater containing mangrove leaf settled within 2 days on the mangrove leaf or sometimes on the sides of the culture plate wells containing mangrove leaves. Settled animals typically developed a mouth and tentacles and completed metamorphosis within a few days of settlement.
The percentage of larvae that settled and metamorphosed in response to peptide inducer generally increased with increasing concentration of peptide inducer at all temperatures tested (Fig. 3).
However, lower percentages of larvae tested at 15 and 208C metamorphosed over a 72 h period compared to larvae tested at higher temperatures. Control animals with no inducer added did not settle at any temperature.

3.3. Feeding ability of scyphistomae

Nematocysts discharged normally at every experimental temperature and time tested between 6 and 388C when subjected to 5% acetic acid (Table 2). Tentacles from polyps held at 36 and 388C were withdrawn, and though the animal tissue began to disintegrate the nematocysts present discharged. Scyphistomae captured and ingested Artemia at all temperatures between 208C to 348C. However, at temperatures # 158C Artemia were captured but not ingested (Table 2). At temperatures higher than 368C, tentacles began to fall apart and Artemia were not captured.
The effect of temperature on tentacle extension was documented. Tentacles of scyphistomae were extended and filiform in appearance when exposed to temperatures between 20 to 348C for up to 72 h (Table 3, Fig. 4). Tentacle length of scyphistomae was generally . 1 mm at all temperatures between 20 and 348C, above which the length

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Fig. 3. Percentage of larvae of Cassiopea xamachana settling and metamorphosing in response to the standard peptide inducer z-GPGGPA (see Section 2). (A) Colder temperatures: 268C (open circles), 208C (closed circles), 158C (triangles). (B) Warmer temperatures: 268C (open circles), 338C (triangles).

decreased markedly (Fig. 4). At 368C all tentacles appeared withdrawn, shorter and broader in comparison to controls, and at 388C the tentacles began to disintegrate within 24 h. When moved to 15–208C temperatures the polyps retained their shape except that tentacles became noticeably shorter and thicker (Fig. 4). Scyphistomae died within 5 days at temperatures below 158C.

3.4. Respiration rates

The effect of temperature on respiration rate was investigated on two groups of twenty

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87
Table 2 Nematocyst firing, prey capture and ingestion of nauplii of Artermia by scyphistomae of Cassiopea

xamachana

  • Temperature (8C)
  • Nematocysts firing
  • Prey capture
  • Ingestion

68

111111111

n.d. n.d.

1

n.d. n.d.

2

10 15 20 26 30 36 38

  • 1
  • 2

  • 1
  • 1

  • 1
  • 1

  • 1
  • 1

  • 1
  • 1

  • n.d.
  • n.d.

Nematocyst firing: 1 5 nematocyst discharge; 2 5 no discharge. Prey capture: 1 5 Artemia captured on tentacle. Ingestion: 1 5 Artemia captured and transferred to mouth and engulfed by scyphistomae; 2 5 Artemia captured, no transfer or engulfment observed within 15 min; n.d. 5 no data available due to disintegration of tentacle.

polyps (Fig. 5). When temperature was decreased from 26 to 128C in one group, the respiration rate decreased (Q10 5 2.48). Conversely, as temperature increased between 26 and 368C, the change in respiration rate increased (Q10 5 2.43).

4. Discussion

Medusae of Cassiopea spp. are formed from polyps by the process known as strobilation, whereby the oral disc of the scyphistomae pinches off from the stalk to form the juvenile jellyfish known as an ephyra. Strobilation occurs only at temperatures higher than 208C and in the presence of zooxanthellae (Hofmann et al., 1978, cf. Rahat and Adar, 1980). The fact that scyphistomae and ephyra were found only during the summer and early fall when water temperatures were highest, but not in the late fall or winter or spring when cold fronts from the north lowered water temperatures, suggests that the polyp portion of the life cycle may have different physiological limits than either the larvae or medusae. Our data show that the scyphistomae did not effectively ingest food at temperatures # 158C. Tentacle length decreased, nematocysts fired, and prey was

Table 3 Tentacle length (mm) of scyphistomae of Cassiopea xamachana at the beginning and end of a 6-day experiment where temperature was held constant

  • Temperature (8C)
  • Beginning length (s.d.)
  • End length (s.d.)
  • Percent change

18 20 26 30 33
1.1260.16 1.2960.36 1.0460.22 1.3160.28 1.1360.67
0.1860.10 1.7460.63 1.4460.58 1.8060.40 2.0960.66
2 83 1 35 1 38 1 38 1 84

Data are means6s.d. from tentacles of six scyphistomae for each temperature. 88

W.K. Fitt, K. Costley / J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 222 (1998) 79–91

Fig. 4. Mean tentacle lengths of Cassiopea xamachana (four tentacles measured and averaged from each of six scyphistomae for each data point): (A) tentacle length in relation to time for control animals maintained at 268C; (B) tentacle length of animals at the control temperature of 268C, and then 72 h after being moved to a temperature either above or below 268C as indicated by arrows. Each line represents one separate experiment. In some experiments animals were moved again to another temperature, in the same direction (arrows) after another 72 h.

captured on tentacles, but polyps were unable to transfer captured food to the mouth. Reduced tentacle length and ciliary function may be responsible for the latter observation. The data suggest that scyphistomae may starve to death during periods of cold water, in spite of the fact they may be able to catch food. This observation, coupled with findings of significantly less larval settlement at temperatures , 208C compared to . 208C, could explain the absence of the scyphistomae portion of the life cycle from late

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  • Biochemical Characterization of Cassiopea Andromeda (Forsskål, 1775), Another Red Sea Jellyfish in the Western Mediterranean Sea

    Biochemical Characterization of Cassiopea Andromeda (Forsskål, 1775), Another Red Sea Jellyfish in the Western Mediterranean Sea

    marine drugs Article Biochemical Characterization of Cassiopea andromeda (Forsskål, 1775), Another Red Sea Jellyfish in the Western Mediterranean Sea Gianluca De Rinaldis 1,2,† , Antonella Leone 1,3,*,† , Stefania De Domenico 1,4 , Mar Bosch-Belmar 5 , Rasa Slizyte 6, Giacomo Milisenda 7 , Annalisa Santucci 2, Clara Albano 1 and Stefano Piraino 3,4 1 Institute of Sciences of Food Production (CNR-ISPA, Unit of Lecce), National Research Council, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; [email protected] (G.D.R.); [email protected] (S.D.D.); [email protected] (C.A.) 2 Department of Biotechnology Chemistry and Pharmacy (DBCF), Università Degli Studi Di Siena, Via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy; [email protected] 3 Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa, Local Unit of Lecce), Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; [email protected] 4 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy 5 Laboratory of Ecology, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; [email protected] 6 Department of Fisheries and New Biomarine Industry, SINTEF Ocean, Brattørkaia 17C, 7010 Trondheim, Norway; [email protected] 7 Centro Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 90142 Palermo, Italy; [email protected] Citation: De Rinaldis, G.; Leone, A.; * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-0832-422615 De Domenico, S.; Bosch-Belmar, M.; † These authors contributed equally to this work. Slizyte, R.; Milisenda, G.; Santucci, A.; Albano, C.; Piraino, S.
  • Bibliography on the Scyphozoa with Selected References on Hydrozoa and Anthozoa

    Bibliography on the Scyphozoa with Selected References on Hydrozoa and Anthozoa

    W&M ScholarWorks Reports 1971 Bibliography on the Scyphozoa with selected references on Hydrozoa and Anthozoa Dale R. Calder Virginia Institute of Marine Science Harold N. Cones Virginia Institute of Marine Science Edwin B. Joseph Virginia Institute of Marine Science Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/reports Part of the Marine Biology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Calder, D. R., Cones, H. N., & Joseph, E. B. (1971) Bibliography on the Scyphozoa with selected references on Hydrozoa and Anthozoa. Special scientific eporr t (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) ; no. 59.. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.21220/V59B3R This Report is brought to you for free and open access by W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Reports by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BIBLIOGRAPHY on the SCYPHOZOA WITH SELECTED REFERENCES ON HYDROZOA and ANTHOZOA Dale R. Calder, Harold N. Cones, Edwin B. Joseph SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT NO. 59 VIRGINIA INSTITUTE. OF MARINE SCIENCE GLOUCESTER POINT, VIRGINIA 23012 AUGUST, 1971 BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE SCYPHOZOA, WITH SELECTED REFERENCES ON HYDROZOA AND ANTHOZOA Dale R. Calder, Harold N. Cones, ar,d Edwin B. Joseph SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT NO. 59 VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 w. J. Hargis, Jr. April 1971 Director i INTRODUCTION Our goal in assembling this bibliography has been to bring together literature references on all aspects of scyphozoan research. Compilation was begun in 1967 as a card file of references to publications on the Scyphozoa; selected references to hydrozoan and anthozoan studies that were considered relevant to the study of scyphozoans were included.
  • Cassiopea Xamachana

    Cassiopea Xamachana

    ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-0777-8 OPEN Cassiosomes are stinging-cell structures in the mucus of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana Cheryl L. Ames1,2,3,12*, Anna M.L. Klompen 3,4,12, Krishna Badhiwala5, Kade Muffett3,6, Abigail J. Reft3,7, 1234567890():,; Mehr Kumar3,8, Jennie D. Janssen 3,9, Janna N. Schultzhaus1, Lauren D. Field1, Megan E. Muroski1, Nick Bezio3,10, Jacob T. Robinson5, Dagmar H. Leary11, Paulyn Cartwright4, Allen G. Collins 3,7 & Gary J. Vora11* Snorkelers in mangrove forest waters inhabited by the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana report discomfort due to a sensation known as stinging water, the cause of which is unknown. Using a combination of histology, microscopy, microfluidics, videography, molecular biology, and mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we describe C. xamachana stinging-cell structures that we term cassiosomes. These structures are released within C. xamachana mucus and are capable of killing prey. Cassiosomes consist of an outer epi- thelial layer mainly composed of nematocytes surrounding a core filled by endosymbiotic dinoflagellates hosted within amoebocytes and presumptive mesoglea. Furthermore, we report cassiosome structures in four additional jellyfish species in the same taxonomic group as C. xamachana (Class Scyphozoa; Order Rhizostomeae), categorized as either motile (ciliated) or nonmotile types. This inaugural study provides a qualitative assessment of the stinging contents of C. xamachana mucus and implicates mucus containing cassiosomes and free intact nematocytes as the cause of stinging water. 1 National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Postdoctoral Research Associate, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA. 2 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan.
  • A Review of Toxins from Cnidaria

    A Review of Toxins from Cnidaria

    marine drugs Review A Review of Toxins from Cnidaria Isabella D’Ambra 1,* and Chiara Lauritano 2 1 Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy 2 Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-081-5833201 Received: 4 August 2020; Accepted: 30 September 2020; Published: 6 October 2020 Abstract: Cnidarians have been known since ancient times for the painful stings they induce to humans. The effects of the stings range from skin irritation to cardiotoxicity and can result in death of human beings. The noxious effects of cnidarian venoms have stimulated the definition of their composition and their activity. Despite this interest, only a limited number of compounds extracted from cnidarian venoms have been identified and defined in detail. Venoms extracted from Anthozoa are likely the most studied, while venoms from Cubozoa attract research interests due to their lethal effects on humans. The investigation of cnidarian venoms has benefited in very recent times by the application of omics approaches. In this review, we propose an updated synopsis of the toxins identified in the venoms of the main classes of Cnidaria (Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Cubozoa, Staurozoa and Anthozoa). We have attempted to consider most of the available information, including a summary of the most recent results from omics and biotechnological studies, with the aim to define the state of the art in the field and provide a background for future research. Keywords: venom; phospholipase; metalloproteinases; ion channels; transcriptomics; proteomics; biotechnological applications 1.
  • Checkpoints in the Life-Cycle of Cassiopea Spp.: Control of Metagenesis and Metamorphosis in a Tropical Jellyfish

    Checkpoints in the Life-Cycle of Cassiopea Spp.: Control of Metagenesis and Metamorphosis in a Tropical Jellyfish

    Int. J. Dc\'. BioI. ~O: 331-33R (1996) 331 Checkpoints in the life-cycle of Cassiopea spp.: control of metagenesis and metamorphosis in a tropical jellyfish# DIETRICH K. HOFMANN'*, WilLIAM K. FITT2 and JURGEN FLECK' 'Ruhr-University Bochum, Department of Zoology, Bochum, Germany and 2University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA ABSTRACT Experimental data reveal that most, if not all, major events in the metagenetic life. cycle of Cassiopea spp. at these checkpoints depend on the interaction with specific biotic and physical cues. For medusa formation within a permissive temperature range by monodisk strobi. lation of the polyp, the presence of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates is indispensable. The priming effect of the algal symbionts is not primarily coupled with photosynthetic activity, but was found to be enhanced in the light. Budding of larva.like propagules by the polyp, however, is indepen- dent from such zooxanthellae. On the other hand the budding rate is influenced by various rear- ing conditions. Exogenous chemical cues control settlement and metamorphosis into scyphopolyps of both sexually produced planula larvae and asexual propagules. In laboratory experiments two classes of metamorphosis inducing compounds have been detected: a family of oligopeptides, featuring a proline-residue next to the carboxyterminal amino acid, and several phorbol esters. Using the peptide "C-DNS-GPGGPA, induction of metamorphosis has been shown to be receptor-mediated. Furthermore, activation of protein kinase C, a key enzyme within the inositolphospholipid-signalling pathway appears to be involved in initiating metamorphosis. In mangrove habitats of Cassiopea spp. planula larvae specifically settle and metamorphose on sub- merged, deteriorating mangrove leaves from which biologically active fractions have been isolat- ed.
  • Fieldable Environmental DNA Sequencing to Assess Jellyfish

    Fieldable Environmental DNA Sequencing to Assess Jellyfish

    fmars-08-640527 April 13, 2021 Time: 12:34 # 1 ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 13 April 2021 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.640527 Fieldable Environmental DNA Sequencing to Assess Jellyfish Biodiversity in Nearshore Waters of the Florida Keys, United States Cheryl Lewis Ames1,2,3*, Aki H. Ohdera3,4, Sophie M. Colston1, Allen G. Collins3,5, William K. Fitt6, André C. Morandini7,8, Jeffrey S. Erickson9 and Gary J. Vora9* 1 National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States, 2 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, 3 Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States, 4 Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States, 5 National Systematics Laboratory of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States, 6 Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States, 7 Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, University of São Edited by: Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 8 Centro de Biologia Marinha, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, Brazil, 9 Center Frank Edgar Muller-Karger, for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States University of South Florida, United States Recent advances in molecular sequencing technology and the increased availability Reviewed by: Chih-Ching Chung, of fieldable laboratory equipment have provided researchers with the opportunity to National Taiwan Ocean University, conduct real-time or near real-time gene-based biodiversity assessments of aquatic Taiwan ecosystems.
  • Spatial Distribution of the Upside-Down Jellyfish Sp. Within

    Spatial Distribution of the Upside-Down Jellyfish Sp. Within

    Spatial distribution of the upside-down jellyfish sp. within fringing coral reef environments of the Northern Red Sea: implications for its life cycle Wolfgang Niggl, Christian Wild To cite this version: Wolfgang Niggl, Christian Wild. Spatial distribution of the upside-down jellyfish sp. within fringing coral reef environments of the Northern Red Sea: implications for its life cycle. Helgoland Marine Research, Springer Verlag, 2009, 64 (4), pp.281-287. 10.1007/s10152-009-0181-8. hal-00542555 HAL Id: hal-00542555 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00542555 Submitted on 3 Dec 2010 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. 1 Spatial distribution of the upside-down 2 jellyfish Cassiopea sp. within fringing coral 3 reef environments of the Northern Red Sea – 4 implications for its life cycle 5 6 Wolfgang Niggl1* and Christian Wild1 7 8 1Coral Reef Ecology Group (CORE), GeoBio-Center & Department of Earth and 9 Environmental Science, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10 10, 80333 München, Germany 11 12 e-mail: [email protected] 13 Phone: +49-89-21806633 14 Fax: +49-89-2180-6601 15 16 Abstract.