Dna Sequencing Complements Morphological Identification of Chiropsoides from Nam Bor Bay, Phuket, Thailand

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Dna Sequencing Complements Morphological Identification of Chiropsoides from Nam Bor Bay, Phuket, Thailand Phuket mar. biol. Cent. Res. Bull 73: 7–14 (2016) DNA SEQUENCING COMPLEMENTS MORPHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF CHIROPSOIDES FROM NAM BOR BAY, PHUKET, THAILAND Phuping Sucharitakul1, Charatsee Aungtonya2 and Siriwadee Chomdej1 * 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science. Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand 2 Phuket Marine Biological Center, P.O. Box 60, Phuket 83000, Thailand *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT: This study was conducted by collecting samples of the jellyfishChiropsoides from Nam Bor Bay, Phuket, in southwest Thailand. Specimens were examined and classified using both morphological and molecular methods. Morphological study revealed that all specimens were Chiropsoides buitendijki. Tissues from the gastric saccule, pedalia, exumbrella and rhopalia were extracted and sequenced using nuclear 18s rRNA. The sequences were submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The accession number is KJ135023. Key words: Molecular analysis, Chiropsoides buitendijki, 18s rRNA INTRODUCTION because of the arrangement of tentacles and unilat- erally-branching pedalia which differ fromChirop - In the past, jellyfish specimens were studied only salmus with bilaterally branching pedalia. However, by morphological techniques. The morphological the name was unavailable since it was already in study of jellyfish for taxonomic purposes is use for a coleopterid group. In 1956 Southcott challenging because many species of jellyfish exhibit renamed it Chiropsoides (cited by Gershwin, 2006; wide variability in form. In Cubozoa, taxonomy is Williamson et al., 1996). Gershwin (2006) noted still being developed and there have been arguments that the shape of the gastric saccules, pedalial canals, on the validity of nominal species in many genera. and branching of pedalia also supported the However, since 2005, two new families of carybdeids separation of this genus. Therefore, those morpho- were established, i.e., Alatinidae Gershwin, 2005a logical characters were used in order to classify and Carukiidae Bentlage, Cartwright, Yanagihara, Chiropsoides (e.g. gastric saccule, morphology of Lewis, Richards and Collins, 2010. In addition, six pedalia, tentacles, and nematocysts). As a result, new genera were proposed, i.e., Copula Bentlage, Chiropsalmus quadrigatus (Haeckel, 1880) was Cartwright, Yanagihara, Lewis, Richards and Collins, classified into this genus because the arrangement 2010 (Tripedaliidae), Alatina Gershwin, 2005a and of pedalia was similar to Chiropsoides buitendijki. Keesingia Gershwin, 2014 (Alatinidae), Gerongia Chiropsoides buitendijki (Figure 3) was first Gershwin and Alderslade, 2005; Malo Gershwin, described from the harbour of Batavia (now Jakarta), 2005b and Morbakka Gershwin, 2008 (Carukiidae). Java, Indonesia by Horst in 1907 as Chiropsalmus In addition, Chiropsellidae Toshino, Miyake and buitendijki. Later, it was assigned to the genus Shibata, 2015 was newly designated as a chirodropid Chiropsoides by Southcott (1956), as mentioned family and three new genera were assigned, i.e., above. It can easily be distinguished from other Chirodectes Gershwin, 2006 (Chirodropidae), chirodropids by its unilaterally branching pedalia. Chiropsella Gershwin, 2006a and Meteorona C. buitendijki has a cuboid bell with 4–9 tentacles. Toshino, Miyake and Shibata, 2015 (Chiropsellidae). One unilateral branching pedalium arises from The genus Chiropsoides is a member of the each corner of the bell. Eight finger-shaped gastric chirodropid (Multiple-tentacle box jellyfish) group. saccules arise from the perradii and are almost as It was originally described as Chiropsalmus long as the height of the bell cavity. C buitendijki buitendijki (Horst, 1907). However, in 1925 Krumbach has 6 eyes (2 median eyes and 4 lateral eyes) separated it into a new genus called Drepanochirus located in a shallow oval-shaped rhopalial niche 8 Phuket mar. biol. Cent. Res. Bull ostium whereas C. quadrigatus has eight cock’s The present study is focused on the identification comb-shaped gastric saccules and a dome-shaped of the box jellyfish genus Chiropsoides collected rhopalial niche ostium (Horst, 1907; Mayer, 1910; from Nam Bor Bay, Phuket in June 2013. The Kramp, 1961; Gershwin, 2005a; 2006; Gershwin morphology was studied in order to clarify ambiguous and Alderslade, 2006). However, Bentlage (pers. specimens and the 18S gene was amplified using comm.) argued that C. quadrigatus referred by tissues from various parts of the animal. Gershwin (2006) appears to be a species of Chi- ronex, which is characterized by the cock’s comb MATERIALS AND METHODS shaped gastric saccules. In recent years, molecular techniques have been Morphological identification applied to identify specimens. Molecular sequences A total of 14 specimens were collected from from genomes provide more characters that can Nam Bor Bay, Phuket, Thailand. The identification be used to identify and classify specimens (Olsen and classification followed Gershwin (2005 and et al, 1993). rRNA has been extensively used in 2006). The trapped jellyfish were collected from phylogenetic studies since the late 20th century. bamboo stakes. Specimens were observed under The most common rRNA employed as a molecular the stereo-microscope to examine the characters marker is the nuclear encoded small subunit (SSU) defining this genus. The height of the bell was 18S rRNA. Due to its slow evolutionary rate, 18S measured from the top of the exumbrella to the rRNA is appropriate for reconstructing phylogenetic velarium using digital vernier calipers (Fig. 1). relationships. Bentlage et al. (2010) constructed a Internal structures were studied by incising the phylogenetic tree in order to discuss the evolution exumbrella along the body wall from the velarium of venom, life-history and biogeography in Cubozoa. up to the corner of the bell, then exposing the stomach In their study, mitochondrial 16S, nuclear 18S and to observe gastric saccules, phacellae, shape of lips nuclear 28S ribosomal genes were amplified, and manubrium. The bell height (BH), bell width sequenced and analysed. (BW) and other features were recorded. Photographs Figure 1. Diagrammatic sketch of Chiropsoides showing parameters measured by digital vernier calipers BH= Bell height, BW= bell width. 9 DNA sequencing complements morphological identification were taken under the stereo-microscope using a primer, 0.2 µM reverse primer (Table 1) and 1 µl of Nikon E 8400 camera, while other images were 25 ng DNA. The primer pairs are shown in Table 1. taken with a Nikon SL 1000 camera. PCR was performed in a PCR tube using an initial denaturing step at 95ºC for 5 min followed by 40 DNA analysis cycles of 95ºC for 30 s, 62ºC for 30 s and 72 ºC for DNA extraction (Adapted from Pinto, 2000) 1 min. Finally, a final extension at 72ºC for 5 min Two tissues from 14 specimens were excised was carried out. The PCR products were visualized from tentacles, gastric saccules, eyes and exumbrella using agarose gel electrophoresis. The sequences before being ground into a powder in liquid nitrogen were obtained from DNA sequencing by 1st Base and placed in a microcentrifuge tube in 400 µl of Company, Selangor, Malaysia. lysis buffer. Then, 24 µl of 10 mg/ml RNAase were added, followed by incubation at 37oC for 30 minutes. Phylogenetic tree reconstruction A total of 20 mg/ml Proteinase K was added to a Multiple alignments were performed using final concentration of 1 mg/ml and incubated at SeqMan. The phylogenetic tree was constructed in 60oC for 48 hours. Subsequently, 500 µl of phenol MEGA 6 (Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis) was added and mixed before samples were by adding the 18S sequences from members of centrifuged at 13,500 rpm for 15 minutes. 360 µl Chiropsoides (KJ135023.1), Chironex (AF358104 of the supernatant of the solution were transferred and GQ849076.1), Chirodropidae (GQ849077), to a new microcentrifuge tube and 360 µl of phenol Chiropsalmus (GQ849078), Chysaora (AF358103), added. The total volume was then mixed by vortexing Pelagia (HE591464), Tripedalia (GQ849088) and before samples were centrifuged at 13,500 rpm for 15 Morbakka (GQ849083); Pelagia and Chysaora are minutes. Approximately 340 µl of the supernatant the out-groups for the purpose of this research. were transferred to a new microcentrifuge tube followed by 340 µl of chloroform: isoamylalcohol RESULTS (24:1). The mixture was inverted and centrifuged at Morphological identification. 13,500 rpm for 15 minutes with 300 µl of supernatant Results from the morphological study indicated then being transferred to a new microcentrifuge tube that all of the specimens were Chiropsoides which was filled with 30 µl of 6 M NaCl and mixed buitendijki (Figs. 2–4). by inverting gently. Following this procedure 750 Description. The maximum bell height was µl of extremely cold absolute ethanol was added 74.44 mm and the maximum bell width was 97.98 in order to precipitate the DNA. Samples were mm. The average bell height was 46.87 mm and centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The the average bell width is 57.62 mm. supernatant solution was discarded; subsequently Specimens were described carefully using both 1 ml of 70% ethanol was added and the samples external and internal structures. The cubic shape were centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 5 minutes. of the bell and its smooth texture can be observed The supernatant solution was discarded and directly on first sight (Fig. 2C). Tentacles were flat- air-dried for 24 hours. Finally, 30 µl of TE
Recommended publications
  • Two New Species of Box Jellies (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeida)
    RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 29 010–019 (2014) DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.29(1).2014.010-019 Two new species of box jellies (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeida) from the central coast of Western Australia, both presumed to cause Irukandji syndrome Lisa-Ann Gershwin CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT – Irukandji jellies are of increasing interest as their stings are becoming more frequently reported around the world. Previously only two species were known from Western Australia, namely Carukia shinju Gershwin, 2005 and Malo maxima Gershwin, 2005, both from Broome. Two new species believed to cause Irukandji syndrome have recently been found and are described herein. One, Malo bella sp. nov., is from the Ningaloo Reef and Dampier Archipelago regions. It differs from its congeners in its small size at maturity, its statolith shape, irregular warts on the perradial lappets, and a unique combination of other traits outlined herein. This species is not associated with any particular stings, but its phylogenetic affi nity would suggest that it may be highly toxic. The second species, Keesingia gigas gen. et sp. nov., is from the Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef regions. This enormous species is unique in possessing key characters of three families, including crescentic phacellae and broadly winged pedalia (Alatinidae) and deeply incised rhopalial niches and feathery diverticulations on the velarial canals (Carukiidae and Tamoyidae). These two new species bring the total species known or believed to cause Irukandji syndrome to at least 16. Research into the biology and ecology of these species should be considered a high priority, in order to manage their potential impacts on public safety.
    [Show full text]
  • Population Structures and Levels of Connectivity for Scyphozoan and Cubozoan Jellyfish
    diversity Review Population Structures and Levels of Connectivity for Scyphozoan and Cubozoan Jellyfish Michael J. Kingsford * , Jodie A. Schlaefer and Scott J. Morrissey Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; [email protected] (J.A.S.); [email protected] (S.J.M.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Understanding the hierarchy of populations from the scale of metapopulations to mesopop- ulations and member local populations is fundamental to understanding the population dynamics of any species. Jellyfish by definition are planktonic and it would be assumed that connectivity would be high among local populations, and that populations would minimally vary in both ecological and genetic clade-level differences over broad spatial scales (i.e., hundreds to thousands of km). Although data exists on the connectivity of scyphozoan jellyfish, there are few data on cubozoans. Cubozoans are capable swimmers and have more complex and sophisticated visual abilities than scyphozoans. We predict, therefore, that cubozoans have the potential to have finer spatial scale differences in population structure than their relatives, the scyphozoans. Here we review the data available on the population structures of scyphozoans and what is known about cubozoans. The evidence from realized connectivity and estimates of potential connectivity for scyphozoans indicates the following. Some jellyfish taxa have a large metapopulation and very large stocks (>1000 s of km), while others have clade-level differences on the scale of tens of km. Data on distributions, genetics of medusa and Citation: Kingsford, M.J.; Schlaefer, polyps, statolith shape, elemental chemistry of statoliths and biophysical modelling of connectivity J.A.; Morrissey, S.J.
    [Show full text]
  • Etiology of Irukandji Syndrome with Particular Focus on the Venom Ecology and Life History of One Medically Significant Carybdeid Box Jellyfish Alatina Moseri
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Carrette, Teresa Jo (2014) Etiology of Irukandji Syndrome with particular focus on the venom ecology and life history of one medically significant carybdeid box jellyfish Alatina moseri. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/40748/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/40748/ Etiology of Irukandji Syndrome with particular focus on the venom ecology and life history of one medically significant carybdeid box jellyfish Alatina moseri Thesis submitted by Teresa Jo Carrette BSc MSc December 2014 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology and Tropical Ecology within the College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Dedication: “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Jacques Yves Cousteau To my family – and my ocean home ii Acknowledgements Firstly, I have to acknowledge my primary supervisor Associate Professor Jamie Seymour. We have spent the last 17 years in a variable state of fatigue, blind enthusiasm, inspiration, reluctance, pain-killer driven delusion, hope and misery. I have you to blame/thank for it all. Just when I think all hope is lost and am about to throw it all in you seem to step in with the words of wisdom that I need.
    [Show full text]
  • AIMS@JCU Outputs 2004 Onwards Abdul Wahab MA; De Nys R
    AIMS@JCU Outputs 2004 onwards Abdul Wahab MA; de Nys R; Whalan SW (2012) Closing the lifecycle for the sustainable aquaculture of the bath sponge Coscinoderma matthewsi. Aquaculture, 324-325. pp. 281-289 http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/22035 Adams VM; Pressey RL; Stoeckl NE (2012) Estimating land and conservation management costs: the first step in designing a stewardship program for the Northern Territory. Biological Conservation, 148 (1). pp. 44-53 http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/20245 Andutta FP; Kingsford MJ; Wolanski E (2012) 'Sticky water' enables the retention of larvae in a reef mosaic. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science , 101. pp. 54-63 http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/22906 Angell AR; Pirozzi I; de Nys R; Paul N (2012) Feeding preferences and the nutritional value of tropical algae for the abalone Haliotis asinina. PLoS ONE, 7 (6). pp. 1-10 http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/22050 Athauda SB; Anderson TA; de Nys R (2012) Effect of rearing water temperature on protandrous sex inversion in cultured Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 175 (3). pp. 416-423 http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/20838 Baird AH; Campbell SJ; Fadli N; Hoey AS; Rudi E (2012) The shallow water hard corals of Pulau Weh, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation and Legislation, 5 (1). pp. 23-28 http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/22743 Bannister RJ; Battershill CN; de Nys R (2012) Suspended sediment grain size and mineralogy across the continental shelf of the Great Barrier Reef: impacts on the physiology of a coral reef sponge. Continental Shelf Research, 32. pp.
    [Show full text]
  • Biology, Ecology and Ecophysiology of the Box Jellyfish Biology, Ecology and Ecophysiology of the Box Jellyfishcarybdea Marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa)
    Biology, ecology and ecophysiology of the box M. J. ACEVEDO jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) Carybdea marsupialis MELISSA J. ACEVEDO DUDLEY PhD Thesis September 2016 Biology, ecology and ecophysiology of the box jellyfish Biology, ecology and ecophysiology of the box jellyfishCarybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) Biologia, ecologia i ecofisiologia de la cubomedusa Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) Melissa Judith Acevedo Dudley Memòria presentada per optar al grau de Doctor per la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Programa de Doctorat en Ciències del Mar (RD 99/2011). Tesi realitzada a l’Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC). Director: Dr. Albert Calbet (ICM-CSIC) Co-directora: Dra. Verónica Fuentes (ICM-CSIC) Tutor/Ponent: Dr. Xavier Gironella (UPC) Barcelona – Setembre 2016 The author has been financed by a FI-DGR pre-doctoral fellowship (AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya). The research presented in this thesis has been carried out in the framework of the LIFE CUBOMED project (LIFE08 NAT/ES/0064). The design in the cover is a modification of an original drawing by Ernesto Azzurro. “There is always an open book for all eyes: nature” Jean Jacques Rousseau “The growth of human populations is exerting an unbearable pressure on natural systems that, obviously, are on the edge of collapse […] the principles we invented to regulate our activities (economy, with its infinite growth) are in conflict with natural principles (ecology, with the finiteness of natural systems) […] Jellyfish are just a symptom of this
    [Show full text]
  • Memoirs of the Queensland Museum (ISSN 0079-8835)
    VOLUME 51 PART 2 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM BRISBANE 31 DECEMBER 2005 © Queensland Museum PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Australia Phone 06 7 3840 7555 Fax 06 7 3846 1226 Email [email protected] Website www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au National Library of Australia card number ISSN 0079-8835 NOTE Papers published in this volume and in all previous volumes of the Memoirs of the Queensland Museum may be reproduced for scientific research, individual study or other educational purposes. Properly acknowledged quotations may be made but queries regarding the republication of any papers should be addressed to the Director. Copies of the journal can be purchased from the Queensland Museum Shop. A Guide to Authors is displayed at the Queensland Museum web site www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/resources/resourcewelcome.html A Queensland Government Project Typeset at the Queensland Museum CARYBDEA ALATA AUCT. AND MANOKIA STIASNYI, RECLASSIFICATION TO A NEW FAMILY WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND TWO NEW SPECIES LISA-ANN GERSHWIN Gershwin, L. 2005 12 01: Carybdea alata auct. and Manokia stiasnyi, reclassification to a new family with description of a new genus and two new species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 51(2): 501-523. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. The species recognition criteria have been confused for cubomedusae, leading to underestimates of biodiversity and nomenclatural errors in the group. At least nine different species have been described with crescentic gastric phacellae, T-shaped rhopaliar niche ostia, and/or 3 velarial canals per octant; all were subsequently included in the synonymy of the oldest name, Carybdea alata, which lacks both a type specimen and an unambiguous identity.
    [Show full text]
  • CNIDARIA Corals, Medusae, Hydroids, Myxozoans
    FOUR Phylum CNIDARIA corals, medusae, hydroids, myxozoans STEPHEN D. CAIRNS, LISA-ANN GERSHWIN, FRED J. BROOK, PHILIP PUGH, ELLIOT W. Dawson, OscaR OcaÑA V., WILLEM VERvooRT, GARY WILLIAMS, JEANETTE E. Watson, DENNIS M. OPREsko, PETER SCHUCHERT, P. MICHAEL HINE, DENNIS P. GORDON, HAMISH J. CAMPBELL, ANTHONY J. WRIGHT, JUAN A. SÁNCHEZ, DAPHNE G. FAUTIN his ancient phylum of mostly marine organisms is best known for its contribution to geomorphological features, forming thousands of square Tkilometres of coral reefs in warm tropical waters. Their fossil remains contribute to some limestones. Cnidarians are also significant components of the plankton, where large medusae – popularly called jellyfish – and colonial forms like Portuguese man-of-war and stringy siphonophores prey on other organisms including small fish. Some of these species are justly feared by humans for their stings, which in some cases can be fatal. Certainly, most New Zealanders will have encountered cnidarians when rambling along beaches and fossicking in rock pools where sea anemones and diminutive bushy hydroids abound. In New Zealand’s fiords and in deeper water on seamounts, black corals and branching gorgonians can form veritable trees five metres high or more. In contrast, inland inhabitants of continental landmasses who have never, or rarely, seen an ocean or visited a seashore can hardly be impressed with the Cnidaria as a phylum – freshwater cnidarians are relatively few, restricted to tiny hydras, the branching hydroid Cordylophora, and rare medusae. Worldwide, there are about 10,000 described species, with perhaps half as many again undescribed. All cnidarians have nettle cells known as nematocysts (or cnidae – from the Greek, knide, a nettle), extraordinarily complex structures that are effectively invaginated coiled tubes within a cell.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic and Selection Analysis of an Expanded Family of Putatively Pore-Forming Jellyfish Toxins (Cnidaria: Medusozoa)
    GBE Phylogenetic and Selection Analysis of an Expanded Family of Putatively Pore-Forming Jellyfish Toxins (Cnidaria: Medusozoa) Anna M. L. Klompen 1,*EhsanKayal 2,3 Allen G. Collins 2,4 andPaulynCartwright 1 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA 2Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/gbe/article/13/6/evab081/6248095 by guest on 24 June 2021 3Sorbonne Universite, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France 4National Systematics Laboratory of NOAA’s Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] Accepted: 19 April 2021 Abstract Many jellyfish species are known to cause a painful sting, but box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) are a well-known danger to humans due to exceptionally potent venoms. Cubozoan toxicity has been attributed to the presence and abundance of cnidarian-specific pore- forming toxins called jellyfish toxins (JFTs), which are highly hemolytic and cardiotoxic. However, JFTs have also been found in other cnidarians outside of Cubozoa, and no comprehensive analysis of their phylogenetic distribution has been conducted to date. Here, we present a thorough annotation of JFTs from 147 cnidarian transcriptomes and document 111 novel putative JFTs from over 20 species within Medusozoa. Phylogenetic analyses show that JFTs form two distinct clades, which we call JFT-1 and JFT-2. JFT-1 includes all known potent cubozoan toxins, as well as hydrozoan and scyphozoan representatives, some of which were derived from medically relevant species. JFT-2 contains primarily uncharacterized JFTs.
    [Show full text]
  • Abundant Box Jellyfish, Chironex Sp. (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Chirodropidae), Discovered at Depths of Over 50 M on Western Australian Coastal Reefs
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Abundant box jellyfish,Chironex sp. (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Chirodropidae), discovered at depths of over 50 m Received: 28 September 2015 Accepted: 11 February 2016 on western Australian coastal reefs Published: 29 February 2016 John K. Keesing1,5, Joanna Strzelecki1,5, Marcus Stowar2, Mary Wakeford2,5, Karen J. Miller2,5, Lisa-Ann Gershwin3 & Dongyan Liu4 Box jellyfish cause human fatalities and have a life cycle and habit associated with shallow waters (<5 m) in mangrove creeks, coastal beaches, embayments. In north-western Australia, tow video and epibenthic sled surveys discovered large numbers (64 in a 1500 m tow or 0.05 m−2) of Chironex sp. very near to the benthos (<50 cm) at depths of 39–56 m. This is the first record of a population of box jellyfish closely associated with the benthos at such depths. Chironex were not widespread, occurring only in 2 of 33 tow videos and 3 of 41 epibenthic sleds spread over 2000 km2. All Chironex filmed or captured were on low to medium relief reefs with rich filter feeder communities. None were on soft sediment habitat despite these habitats comprising 49% of all sites. The importance of the reef habitat to Chironex remains unclear. Being associated with filter feeder communities might represent a hazard, and other studies have shown C. fleckeri avoid habitats which represent a risk of entanglement of their tentacles. Most of our observations were made during the period of lowest tidal current flow in the morning. This may represent a period favourable for active hunting for prey close to the seabed.
    [Show full text]
  • Exceptionally Preserved Jellyfishes from the Middle Cambrian Paulyn Cartwright1, Susan L
    Exceptionally Preserved Jellyfishes from the Middle Cambrian Paulyn Cartwright1, Susan L. Halgedahl2, Jonathan R. Hendricks3, Richard D. Jarrard2, Antonio C. Marques4, Allen G. Collins5, Bruce S. Lieberman3* 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America, 2 Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America, 3 Department of Geology, and Division of Invertebrate Paleontology, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America, 4 Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biocieˆncias, Universidade de Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil, 5 National Systematics Laboratory of NOAA Fisheries Service, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., United States of America Cnidarians represent an early diverging animal group and thus insight into their origin and diversification is key to understanding metazoan evolution. Further, cnidarian jellyfish comprise an important component of modern marine planktonic ecosystems. Here we report on exceptionally preserved cnidarian jellyfish fossils from the Middle Cambrian (,505 million years old) Marjum Formation of Utah. These are the first described Cambrian jellyfish fossils to display exquisite preservation of soft part anatomy including detailed features of structures interpreted as trailing tentacles and subumbrellar and exumbrellar surfaces. If the interpretation of these preserved characters is correct, their presence is diagnostic of modern jellyfish taxa. These new discoveries may provide insight into the scope of cnidarian diversity shortly after the Cambrian radiation, and would reinforce the notion that important taxonomic components of the modern planktonic realm were in place by the Cambrian period.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Irukandji' Jellyfish: Carukia Barnesi
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Courtney, Robert (2016) Life cycle, prey capture ecology, and physiological tolerances of Medusae and polyps of the 'Irukandji' jellyfish: Carukia barnesi. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49935/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/49935/ Life Cycle, Prey Capture Ecology, and Physiological Tolerances of Medusae and Polyps of the ‘Irukandji’ Jellyfish: Carukia barnesi Thesis Submitted by: Robert Courtney BSc (Hons 1A) November 11, 2016 For the Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Supervisors: Principle Supervisor: Associate Professor Jamie Seymour, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns [email protected] Co-Supervisor: Emeritus Professor Rhondda Jones, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville [email protected] Co-Supervisor: Dr Nik Sachlikidis, NGSAquatic, [email protected] Thesis Dedication: I would like to dedicate this thesis to The Lions Foundation of Australia, for their continual financial support dedicated to stinger research, and to Dr. Jack Barnes, for his pioneering work in the field of Irukandji research. i Statement of the Contribution of Others: Robert Courtney is the primary author of this Thesis and was extensively involved in all aspects of this work under the supervision of: Associate Professor Jamie Seymour; Emeritus Professor Rhondda Jones; and Dr Nik Sachlikidis.
    [Show full text]
  • Biology, Ecology and Ecophysiology of the Box Jellyfish Carybdea Marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa)
    Biology, ecology and ecophysiology of the box jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) MELISSA J. ACEVEDO DUDLEY PhD Thesis September 2016 Biology, ecology and ecophysiology of the box jellysh Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) Biologia, ecologia i ecosiologia de la cubomedusa Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) Melissa Judith Acevedo Dudley Memòria presentada per optar al grau de Doctor per la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Programa de Doctorat en Ciències del Mar (RD 99/2011). Tesi realitzada a l’Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC). Director: Dr. Albert Calbet (ICM-CSIC) Co-directora: Dra. Verónica Fuentes (ICM-CSIC) Tutor/Ponent: Dr. Xavier Gironella (UPC) Barcelona – Setembre 2016 The author has been nanced by a FI-DGR pre-doctoral fellowship (AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya). The research presented in this thesis has been carried out in the framework of the LIFE CUBOMED project (LIFE08 NAT/ES/0064). The design in the cover is a modication of an original drawing by Ernesto Azzurro. “There is always an open book for all eyes: nature” Jean Jacques Rousseau “The growth of human populations is exerting an unbearable pressure on natural systems that, obviously, are on the edge of collapse […] the principles we invented to regulate our activities (economy, with its innite growth) are in conict with natural principles (ecology, with the niteness of natural systems) […] Jellysh are just a symptom of this situation, another warning that Nature is giving us!” Ferdinando Boero (FAO Report 2013) Thesis contents
    [Show full text]