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As medusas constituem um grupo de organismos gelatinosos pertencentes ao zooplâncton cuja presença nos oceanos tem vindo a aumentar ao longo das últimas décadas, impactando negativamente diversas atividades humanas e ecossistemas marinhos. Ainda que conspícuas, as medusas representam uma componente relativamente pouco estudada dos ecossistemas marinhos apesar do interesse pelo seu estudo ter vindo a crescer significativamente graças ao potencial que apresentam em diversas áreas, desde a científica e farmacêutica até à aquariofilia ornamental. As éfiras recém eclodidas de Phyllorhiza punctata apresentam simetria tetraradial com, geralmente, 8 braços simétricos. Por vezes designados por lóbulos, estes braços têm como finalidade ajudarem na locomoção. Contudo, o desenvolvimento de éfiras é, por vezes, imperfeito, resultando no aparecimento de deformações nas estruturas ou de um número irregular de braços ropalares, apesar de ainda não se saber que fatores influenciam o aparecimento deste tipo de deformações. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve por objetivos avaliar o efeito da salinidade no aparecimento de um número irregular de braços ropalares em éfiras de Phyllorhiza punctata, tendo sido testadas as salinidades 34 e 40. Foi também investigado a influência de éfiras com 8, 9 ou 10 braços ropalares na taxa de crescimento, de forma a perceber se esta característica funcionava como uma característica adaptativa da espécie. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho demonstraram que a salinidade não afetava o número de braços ropalares das éfiras. Da mesma forma, verificámos que éfiras com diferentes braços ropalares não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas na taxa de crescimento (0,60 ± 0,08 mm dia-1 (n=8), 0,58 ± 0,05 mm dia-1 (n=9) e 0,68 ± 0,04 mm dia-1 (n=10)), podendo isto estar relacionado com o tempo e número de tratamentos insuficientes de ensaio. Com isto, torna-se necessário a realização de mais estudos que incluam um maior número de tratamentos e o crescimento das éfiras seja observado ao longo das diferentes fases do seu ciclo de vida. Jellyfish are a group of gelatinous organisms belonging to the zooplankton whose presence in the oceans has been increasing over the last decades, negatively impacting several human activities and marine ecosystems. Although conspicuous, jellyfish represent a relatively understudied component of marine ecosystems, although interest in their study has been growing significantly thanks to their potential in several areas, from scientific and pharmaceutical to ornamental aquarium hobby. Mature polyps of Phyllorhiza punctata with 16 tentacles originate ephyrae with tetraradial symmetry and usually 8 oral arms. However, the development of ephyrae is sometimes imperfect, resulting in the appearance of deformations in the structures or an irregular number of oral arms, although it is not yet known what factors influence the appearance of this type of deformations. Newly hatched ephyrae of Phyllorhiza punctata display tetraradial symmetry with usually 8 symmetrical arms. Sometimes referred to as lobes, these arms are intended to aid in locomotion. In this context, the present work aimed to evaluate the effect of salinity on the appearance of an irregular number of rhopalar arms in ephyrae of Phyllorhiza punctata, having tested salinities 34 and 40. The influence of ephyrae with 8, 9 or 10 rhopalar arms on the growth rate was also investigated, in order to understand if this characteristic worked as an adaptive feature of the species. The results obtained in this work did not show differences in the number of rhopalar arms of Phyllorhiza punctata ephyrae depending on the salinity at which polyps were cultured. Similarly, the growth rate of the ephyrae did not show statistically significant differences according to the number of rhopalar arms of the ephyrae (0,60 ± 0,08 mm day-1 (n=8), 0,58 ± 0,05 mm day-1 (n=9) and 0,68 ± 0,04 mm day-1 (n=10)), since they showed a growth rate quite similar among treatments, and this may be related to the insufficient time and number of test treatments. With this, further studies are needed that include a larger number of treatments and the growth of the ephyrae is observed throughout the different stages of their life cycle.

Jellyfish are useful genetic indicators for aquatic ecosystems as they have limited mobility and are highly exposed to the water column. By using comparative genomics and the molecular clock (timetree) of Rhizostoma pulmo, we revealed a divergence point between the East and West Mediterranean Sea (MS) populations that occurred 4.59 million years ago (mya). It is suggested that the two distinct ecological environments we know today were formed at this time. We propose that before this divergence, the highly mixed Atlantic and Mediterranean waters led to the wide dispersal of different species including R. pulmo. At 4.59 mya, the Western and Eastern MS were formed, indicating the possibility of a dramatic environmental event. For the first time, we find that for the jellyfish we examined, the division of the MS in east and west is not at the Straits of Sicily as generally thought, but significantly to the east. Using genomics of the Aurelia species, we examined contemporary anthropogenic impacts with a focus on migration of scyphozoa across the Suez Canal (Lessepsian migration). Aurelia sp. is among the few scyphozoa we find in both the MS and the Red Sea, but our DNA analysis revealed that the Red Sea Aurelia sp. did not migrate or mix with MS species. Phyllorhiza punctata results showed that this species was only recently introduced to the MS as a result of anthropogenic transportation activity, such as ballast water discharge, and revealed a migration vector from Australia to the MS. Our findings demonstrate that jellyfish genomes can be used as a phylogeographic molecular tool to trace past events across large temporal scales and reveal invasive species introduction due to human activity., With the use of genetic tools, we revealed a divergence point between the East and West Mediterranean Sea populations that occurred 4.59 million years ago, and we propose that the western and eastern Mediterranean Sea were formed at that time. For the first time, we find that the division of the Mediterranean Sea in east and west is not at the Strait of Sicily, but significantly to the east. Aurelia sp. DNA analysis revealed that the Red Sea Aurelia sp. did not migrate or mix with Mediterranean Sea species. Phyllorhiza punctata results showed that this species was only recently introduced to the Mediterranean Sea from Australia due to human activity.

The associated microbiota plays an essential role in the life process of jellyfish. The endobiotic bacterial communities from four common jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata, Cyanea capillata, Chrysaora melanaster, and Aurelia coerulea were comparatively analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing in this study. Several 1049 OTUs were harvested from a total of 130 183 reads. Tenericutes (68.4%) and Firmicutes (82.1%) are the most abundant phyla in P. punctata and C. melanaster, whereas C. capillata and A. coerulea share the same top phylum Proteobacteria (76.9% vs. 78.3%). The classified OTUs and bacterial abundance greatly decrease from the phylum to genus level. The top 20 matched genera only account for 9.03% of the total community in P. punctata, 48.9% in C. capillata, 83.05% in C. melanaster, and 58.1% in A. coerulea, respectively. The heatmap of the top 50 genera shows that the relative abundances in A. coerulea and C. capillata are far richer than that in P. punctata and C. melanaster. Moreover, a total of 41 predictive functional categories at KEGG level 2 were identified. Our study indicates the independent diversity of the bacterial communities in the four common Scyphomedusae, which might involve in the metabolism and environmental information processing of the hosts. The associated microbiota plays an essential role in the life process of jellyfish. The endobiotic bacterial communities from four common jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata, Cyanea capillata, Chrysaora melanaster, and Aurelia coerulea were comparatively analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing in this study. Several 1049 OTUs were harvested from a total of 130 183 reads. Tenericutes (68.4%) and Firmicutes (82.1%) are the most abundant phyla in P. punctata and C. melanaster, whereas C. capillata and A. coerulea share the same top phylum Proteobacteria (76.9% vs. 78.3%). The classified OTUs and bacterial abundance greatly decrease from the phylum to genus level. The top 20 matched genera only account for 9.03% of the total community in P. punctata, 48.9% in C. capillata, 83.05% in C. melanaster, and 58.1% in A. coerulea, respectively. The heatmap of the top 50 genera shows that the relative abundances in A. coerulea and C. capillata are far richer than that in P. punctata and C. melanaster. Moreover, a total of 41 predictive functional categories at KEGG level 2 were identified. Our study indicates the independent diversity of the bacterial communities in the four common Scyphomedusae, which might involve in the metabolism and environmental information processing of the hosts.

The distribution, abundance and size structure of a penaeid with tropical affinities (Metapenaeus dalli) was investigated in a temperate, microtidal estuary in south-western Australia. Sampling was conducted every lunar month for two years at 20 sites across five regions (nine subregions) in nearshore waters by hand trawl, and at 16 sites across four regions (eight subregions) in offshore waters by otter trawl. Densities of M. dalli changed markedly seasonally, with greatest values recorded in nearshore waters from October to February, and in offshore waters from March to July. These densities also varied spatially, with the highest recorded in the Lower Canning, Middle Swan, and Upper Melville Water regions. Spearman's rank correlation showed a positive relationship between the density of M. dalli in nearshore waters and surface water temperature in all nine subregions, whilst densities of M. dalli in offshore waters were negatively correlated with bottom water temperature in most of the estuary; these correlations reflect the movement of adult prawns into shallow waters for breeding in summer, as well as the subsequent recruitment and movement back into deeper waters over the winter months. Mean carapace lengths remained relatively unchanged over the late autumn and winter months (May to August), before rapidly increasing with temperature in late spring. The spatial and temporal distribution of M. dalli differed significantly from those of other crustaceans in the estuary, particularly the penaeid Penaeus Merlicertus latisulcatus, which was concentrated mainly in the Lower and Upper Melville Water regions. The distribution of M. dalli was statistically indistinct from that of the apogonid Ostorhinchus rueppellii, which predates heavily on postlarval M. dalli, and very similar to those of two scyphozoans, Aurelia aurita and Phyllorhiza punctata, that likely predate on larval M. dalli. These findings highlight the partitioning of species within the estuary and the significance of site selection for maximising the post-release survival of hatchery-reared M. dalli produced by aquaculture-based enhancement programs.

Our observations on scyphomedusae from selected Philippine embayments identified specific animals commensal with five species of rhizostome scyphomedusae, Acromitoides purpurus, Mastigias sp., Phyllorhiza punctata, Rhopilema hispidum and Versuriga anadyomene. Acromitoides purpurus medusae harbor the crab Charybdis feriata, the carangid fish Alepes djedaba and the poecilostomatoid copepod Paramacrochiron sp. The carangid A. djedaba was an associate of the blue morph of A. purpurus and Rhopilema hispidum in Panguil Bay. A black-pigmented Alepes sp. was found associated with burgundy A. purpurus medusae in Carigara Bay. Charybdis feriata juveniles are common commensals of all morphs of A. purpurus, R. hispidum and P. punctata medusae. Only the zooxanthelate Mastigias sp. lacked animal symbionts. We invoke the “meeting-point hypothesis” and the general theory of fish aggregation to floating structures to explain fish symbiosis with their medusan hosts. The invertebrate-medusa associations are attributed to feeding behaviors and predator avoidance by resident commensals. This study provides record of the poorly studied scyphozoan species and their association with animals in Philippine waters. Finally, we discuss the potential reasons why the golden spotted jellyfish, Mastigias sp., appears to lack animal commensals.

Introduction The potential efficacy of selected plant extracts to counteract the dermal toxicity of jellyfish envenomation was investigated using an in vitro cell culture model. Methods We studied plant extracts from Carica papaya, Ananas comosus, and Bouvardia ternifolia, known for their antivenom properties, in pairwise combinations with tissue homogenates of the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca, Phyllorhiza punctata, and Cassiopea andromeda, to evaluate modulations of jellyfish cytotoxic effects. L929 mouse fibroblasts were incubated with pairwise jellyfish/plant extract combinations and examined by MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). Results C papaya and A comosus significantly lowered the cytotoxicity of P noctiluca and P punctata but induced a slight worsening of C andromeda cytotoxicity. Conversely, B ternifolia was protective against P punctata, ineffective against P noctiluca, and worsened C andromeda cytotoxicity. Conclusions Data showed species-specific and contrasting effects of plant extracts, suggesting that those containing protease activities, namely A comosus and C papaya, are more effective in lowering the cytotoxicity of jellyfish venom containing toxic peptidic factors such as phospholipase A. However, all examined plants require further investigation in vivo to evaluate their ability to counteract jellyfish injury to the skin.

Authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through Strategic Project UID/MAR/04292/2019 and UID/Multi/04046/2019 granted to MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre; through Red2Discovery Project (PTDC/MAR-BIO/6149/2014), co-financed by COMPETE (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016791); through CrossAtlantic project (PTDC/BIA-OUT/29250/2017), co-financed by COMPETE (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029250); through Jellyfisheries (POCI-01-0145-FEDER016772) and VALORMAR (Mobilizing R&TD Programs, Portugal 2020) co-funded by COMPETE (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-024517). The authors also wish to acknowledge the Integrated Programme of SR&TD “Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate” (reference Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018), cofunded by Centro 2020 program, Portugal 2020, European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund, and SAICTPAC/ 0019/2015 - LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-016405 Oncologia de Precisão: Terapias e Tecnologias Inovadoras (POINT4PAC). This work was also supported by the European Union through EASME Blue Labs project AMALIA—Algae-to-MArket Lab IdeAs (EASME/EMFF/2016/1.2.1.4/03/ SI2.750419). Susete Pinteus, Celso Alves, Joana Silva and Sónia C. Marques were financial supported by FCT grants SFRH/BD/96203/ 2013, SFRH/BD/97764/2013, SFRH/BD/103255/2014 and SFRH/BPD/ 110400/2015, respectively. Although in the last decades significant advances have been made to improve antifouling formulations, the main current options continue to be highly toxic tomarine environment, leading to an urgent need for new safer alternatives. For anti-adherence studies, barnacles and mussels are commonly the first choice for experimental purposes. However, the use of these organisms involves a series of laborious and time-consuming stages. In the present work, a new approach for testing antifouling formulations was developed under known formulations and novel proposed options. Due to their high resilience, ability of surviving in hostile environments and high abundance in different ecosystems, medusa polyps present themselves as prospect candidates for antifouling protocols. Thus, a complete protocol to test antifouling formulations using polyps is presented, while the antifouling properties of two invasive seaweeds, Asparagopsis armata and Sargassum muticum, were evaluated within this new test model framework. The use of medusa polyps as model to test antifouling substances revealed to be a reliable alternative to the conventional organisms, presenting several advantages since the protocol is less laborious, less time-consuming and reproductive. The results also show that the seaweeds A. armata and S. muticum produce compounds with anti-adherence properties being therefore potential candidates for the development of new greener antifouling formulations. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Jellyfish play a vital role in the ocean’s ecosystem, acting as a nursery for young fishes, crabs, and brittle stars, as well as a source of food for certain charismatic megafauna, such as sunfish and sea turtles. They also pose a threat to human activities, with jellyfish blooms negatively impacting fisheries, power generation, and tourism. However, very little information is available on the biodiversity of jellyfish within the waters of Borneo. Here, we present new records of jellyfish found along the coast of Sabah, Malaysia, located in northern Borneo, bordering the megadiverse region of the Coral Triangle. A total of six species belonging to two classes and six families hitherto not recorded to the state are reported, Chironex yamaguchii, Acromitus maculosus, Crambione mastigophora, Linuche aquila, Netrostoma sp., and Phyllorhiza punctata. Of these, two species (C. yamaguchii and L. aquila) are harmful to humans, with C. yamaguchii capable of causing human fatalities. Reports of harmful jellyfish are useful to the medical and tourism industry, as some of these species may inflict stings and adverse reactions to humans ranging from rashes and skin irritation to fatal envenomation. A checklist has also been provided for all collected jellyfish species from Sabah waters of Borneo, Malaysia.

O cultivo de medusas em aquacultura possui diversas potencialidades, nomeadamente na área da investigação científica, considerando o impacto destes organismos nos ecossistemas marinhos, na área da investigação farmacêutica, pelas propriedades do seu veneno, e na área da aquariofilia ornamental, cuja procura tem vindo a crescer recentemente. Contudo, o estudo das necessidades nutricionais e condições ideais de manutenção de medusas em laboratório ainda é bastante recente e necessita de vários avanços técnicos e científicos que permitam o cultivo adequado destes organismos. Neste estudo, foi avaliado o efeito da dieta no crescimento e desenvolvimento de medusas adultas Phyllorhiza punctata, uma espécie emergente no comércio ornamental. As dietas analisadas consistiram no fornecimento de náuplios de artémia (Artemia fransciscana) quatro vezes ao dia, juntamente com uma alimentação diária de papa de mexilhão (Dieta 1, Mytilus edulis), pescada (Dieta 2, Merluccius merluccius) e soja (Dieta 3, Glycine max). A Dieta Controlo consistiu na alimentação exclusiva com náuplios de artémia, quatro vezes ao dia. As experiências tiveram a duração de 62 dias. Os resultados obtidos para o crescimento de todos os indivíduos analisados revelaram um crescimento médio total da campânula superior para as Dietas 1, 2 e 3 (5,22 ± 2,44cm, 4,99 ± 2,14cm e 5,32 ± 2,87cm, respetivamente), quando comparadas com a Dieta Controlo (3,04 ± 1,91cm), com diferenças estatisticamente significativas apenas entre a Dieta Controlo e as Dietas 1 e 2 (Kruskal-Wallis, p-value=0,039; Teste de Dunnett, p-value0,05). Na análise do crescimento excluindo as medusas deformadas, a Dieta Controlo é novamente a que proporciona um menor crescimento (4,24 ± 2,15cm), e apresenta diferenças estatisticamente significativas com as Dietas 1, 2 e 3 (6,73 ± 2,34cm, 5,96 ± 1,28cm e 8,52 ± 2,43cm, respetivamente) (ANOVA, p-value=0,04; Teste de Dunnett, p-value0,05), é evidente uma maior divergência de crescimentos entre as mesmas, comparativamente à análise de todos os indivíduos. A Dieta 3 é a que proporciona um maior crescimento da campânula, sucedida pela Dieta 1 e pela Dieta 2. Na análise do efeito da dieta no desenvolvimento morfológico, foram observadas características morfológicas típicas desta espécie no meio selvagem, como o aparecimento das pintas brancas e da coloração azul e acastanhada na campânula, a fisionomia dos braços orais e o desenvolvimento dos tentáculos azuis. A percentagem de indivíduos com a coloração acastanhada da campânula não apresentou associação estatisticamente significativa com a dieta fornecida (Qui-Quadrado, p-value=0,051). No entanto, foi demonstrada uma associação estatisticamente significativa entre a dieta e a percentagem de indivíduos com a coloração azul, presente entre a Dieta 3 e a Dieta Controlo (Qui-Quadrado, p-value=0,027). Na análise do aparecimento e desenvolvimento das restantes características morfológicas é possível verificar uma precocidade no aparecimento das mesmas para a Dieta 3 (tal como para a coloração azul), assim como um desenvolvimento mais rápido e uma morfologia mais representativa da espécie no meio selvagem. Estes resultados sugerem que esta espécie possui a capacidade de se alimentar de matéria orgânica de origem animal e vegetal, o que representa um contributo importante para o aperfeiçoamento das técnicas de cultivo e nutrição de medusas em aquacultura. Porém, são necessários mais estudos para compreender as necessidades nutricionais das medusas, assim como o efeito da dieta no crescimento e morfologia das mesmas. Jellyfish rearing in aquaculture has several potentialities in scientific research, considering their impact on marine ecosystems, in pharmaceutical research, because of its venom’s properties, and more recently in the ornamental trade. However, the study of the nutritional needs and maintenance of jellyfish in captivity is still very recent and requires several technical and scientific advances to allow an optimal rearing of these organisms. For this study, the effect of diet was evaluated on growth and development of adult jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata, an emerging species in ornamental trade. The diets analyzed consisted in the supply of Artemia fransciscana four times a day, along with a daily diet of mashed mussel (Diet 1, Mytilus edulis), hake (Diet 2, Merluccius merluccius) and soybean (Diet 3, Glycine max). Control diet consisted of exclusive feeding with artemia nauplii four times a day. The experiments lasted for 62 days. The results obtained for the growth of all the analyzed individuals revealed a superior growth for the Diets 1, 2 and 3 (5,22 ± 2,44cm, 4,99 ± 2,14cm and 5,32 ± 2,87cm, respectively), when compared to the Control Diet (3,04 ± 1,91cm), with statistically significant differences only between control and Diets 1 and 2 (Kruskal-Wallis, p-value=0,039; Dunnett’s test, p-value0,05). When analyzing growth excluding deformed jellyfish, control still shows the lowest growth (4,24 ± 2,15cm), and presents statistically significant differences with Diets 1, 2 and 3 (6,73 ± 2,34cm, 5,96 ± 1,28cm and 8,52 ± 2,43cm, respectively) (ANOVA, p-value=0,04, Dunnett’s test, p-value0,05), the differences between the growth of these diets are more noticeable. Diet 3 provides the biggest growth of the bell, followed by Diet 1 and Diet 2. To analyze the effect of the diet on morphological development, the typical morphological characteristics of this species in the wild were observed, such as the appearance of white spots and blue and brown coloration on the bell, the physiology of the oral arms and the development of blue tentacles. The percentage of individuals with the brownish color of the bell did not present a statistically significant association with the diet provided (Chi-Square, p-value=0,051). However, a statistically significant association between the diet and the percentage of individuals with the blue color present between Diet 3 and control (Chi-Square, p-value=0,027) was demonstrated. For the analysis of the appearance and development of the remaining morphological characteristics, it is possible to verify a precocity in the appearance of these for Diet 3 (as for the blue coloration), as well as a faster development and a more representative morphology of the species in the wild. These results suggest that this species has the capacity to feed on organic matter of animal and vegetable source, which represents an important contribution to the improvement of rearing and nutrition techniques of jellyfish in aquaculture. However, further studies are needed to understand the nutritional needs of jellyfish, as well as the effect of diet on their growth and development.

Background. It has been suggested that aquaculture ponds on the Chinese coast could act as breeding grounds for scyphozoans. Here, we present the first record of the scyphomedusa Phyllorhiza sp. in an aquaculture pond on the coast of the southern Yellow Sea, based on a combination of morphological characteristics and mitochondrial 16S DNA sequence data. Methods. A field survey was performed on June 29, 2017 in a pond used for culturing the shrimp Penaeus japonicus, located in the southern Yellow Sea, China. Jellyfish specimens were collected for morphological and genetic analysis. The morphological characters of the jellyfish specimens were compared to taxonomic literature. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial 16S fragments of these specimens were also conducted. Results. These specimens had the following morphological characters: hemispherical umbrella without scapulets; J-shaped oral arms; a single larger terminal club on each arm; bluish colored with a slightly expanded white tip; and mouthlets present only in the lower half to one-third of each arm. These morphological features of the medusae indicated that the specimens found in the shrimp culture ponds belong to the genus Phyllorhiza Agassiz, 1862, but did not match with the description of any of the known species of the genus Phyllorhiza. Phylogenetic analyses of the mtDNA 16S regions revealed that these specimens, together with Phyllorhiza sp. from Malaysian coastal waters, belong to a sister group of Phyllorhiza punctata. Juveniles and ephyrae of Phyllorhiza sp. were observed in the aquaculture pond. The mean density of Phyllorhiza sp. medusa in the surface water within the pond was estimated to be 0.05 individuals/m 2 . Discussion. Based on our observations of the gross morphology and molecular data, we state that the specimens collected in the aquaculture pond can be identified as Phyllorhiza sp. This is the first record of Phyllorhiza sp. in Chinese seas. Large scale dispersal through ballast water or the expansion of jellyfish aquarium exhibitions are possible pathways of invasion, but this needs to be confirmed in further studies. Fil: Dong, Zhijun. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China Fil: Morandini, André C.. Universidade de São Paulo; Brasil Fil: Schiariti, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina Fil: Wang, Lei. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China Fil: Sun, Tingting. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China

Since 2008 AquaBioSolutions, the first privately owned jellyfish breeding center, not related to a zoo or a public aquarium, was founded in the Netherlands. With his more than 30 years experience in sea water quality management and work in the Artis Zoo Aquarium in Amsterdam, Piet Sondervan started to breed jellyfish for commercial purpose. The goal was to provide jellyfish to public aquariums and zoos, which do not have the possibility to breed jellyfish by themselves. This article deals with AquaBioSolutions’ experiences of the first five years and with the perspective of the company for the future.

The popularity of jellyfish in Europe at the end of the 19th century influenced the European Art Nouveau period and jellyfish decoration elements can be found at several buildings. But at that time it was still impossible to keep jellyfish for a longer time alive in an aquarium. Methods for the husbandry of jellyfish were developed only in the second half of the 20th century. During the last 20 years the exhibition of jellyfish became more and more popular and is today a standard for all larger aquariums. The development of husbandry is documented on the basis of the husbandry methods for jellyfish in the Berlin Aquarium, which has today one of the leading jellyfish exhibitions in the world.

WOS: 000423194500015, Science Citation Index Expanded, The "New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records" series includes new records of marine species found in the Mediterranean basin and/or information on the spatial distribution of already established species of particular interest. The current article presents information on 21 marine taxa classified per country according to their geographic position in the Mediterranean, from west to east. The new records per ecoregion are as follows: Algeria: the first record of the fish Etrumeus golanii is reported along the Algerian coast. Tunisia: the alien jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata is reported for the first time in the Gulf of Gabes. Italy: the first record of Siganus rivulatus in the Strait of Sicily and a new record of Katsuwonus pelamis from the central Tyrrhenian Sea are reported. The establishment of the isopod of the genus Mesanthura in the northern Tyrrhenian with some notes on its ecology are also included. Croatia: signs of establishment of the Lessepsian Siganus luridus and the occurrence of the alien mollusc Rapana venosa are reported. Albania: the first record of the elasmobranch Alopias superciliosus and a recent sighting of the rare monk seal Monachus monachus in Albanian waters are given. Greece: signs of the establishment of the fish Parupeneus forsskali and of the ascidian Hermania momus in Hellenic Aegean waters are reported. Turkey: a new record of the fish P. forsskali and of the halacarid mites Acaromantis monnioti and Simognathus adriaticus are given, while the first case of Remora australis in association with delphinids and the occurrence of the sea star Coscinasterias tenuispina are reported. Also, the establishment of the two alien species Isognomon legumen and Viriola sp. [cf. corrugata] are presented. Egypt: the fish Bathygobius cyclopterus is reported for the first time in Mediterranean Sea waters. Also, a new record of Pagellus bogaraveo and a first record of Seriola fasciata in Egyptian Mediterranean waters are reported. Lebanon: the first record of Dondice banyulensis is presented., Interreg MED Project Mpa-Adapt Guiding Mediterranean MPAs through the climate change era: building resilience and adaptation; Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) [IP-2016-06-5251]; Rufford Foundation [19938-1]; Rufford Foundation; Marine Mammals Research Association; Interreg MED Project Mpa-Adapt Guiding Mediterranean MPAs through the climate change era: building resilience and adaptation; Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) [IP-2016-06-5251]; Rufford Foundation [19938-1]; Rufford Foundation; Marine Mammals Research Association; [R 2000 Eb F 42 / L43], Azzurro E. and Giardina F. are indebted to Giuseppe Maggiore and Peppino Sorrentino for providing all the information regarding the capture of Siganus rivulatus in Lampedusa Island; their study was supported by the Interreg MED Project Mpa-Adapt Guiding Mediterranean MPAs through the climate change era: building resilience and adaptation. Rabaoui L. and El Zrelli R. would like to thank all fishermen who provided information on the recent occurrence of Phyllorhiza punctata in the Gulf of Gabes. Dulcic J. and Dragicevic B. acknowledge the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) that partly supported their work under project IP-2016-06-5251. Giovos I. and Cakalli M. would like to warmly thank the fisherman Arsen Jupe for helping and assisting them in taking all the measurements. Bakiu R. and Cakalli M. would like to thank the Rufford Foundation (Project ref. 19938-1) for financially supporting the Mediterranean monk seal monitoring program along the Ionian coast of Albania; furthermore, they wish to warmly thank Eng. Agron Bakiu for the power supply system that he built for the camera traps.. Bas A.A. and Gonulal O. would like to thank Prof. Dr. Ivan Sazima and Isil Danyer for their help on species identification and the Rufford Foundation and Marine Mammals Research Association for their financial support. Durucan F. and Boyaci Y.O. wish to express special thanks to Dr. Matteo Dal Zotto (Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Modena, Italy) who kindly sent them a copy of Dr. Morselli's article that was lacking from the first author's library. Durucan F. would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their useful comments and also Suleyman Demirel University, Fisheries Faculty, Ecology and Limnology laboratory (Isparta, Turkey) for providing laboratory facilities. Crocetta F. and Bitar G. thank Jean Vacelet (Marseille, France) for the photo of Dondice banyulensis taken during the Franco-Lebanese cooperation program - CEDRE (1999-2002) (R 2000 Eb F 42 / L43). Kassar A. and Hemida F. are deeply grateful to the fisherman Benssada Djamel for providing the specimen of Etrumeus golanii.

The aim of the present study was to risk screen 45 jellyfish species (30 hydromedusae, 14 scyphomedusae, one cubomedusa) for their potential invasiveness in the Mediterranean Sea to aid managers in making informed decisions on targeting appropriate species for management. Using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK), calibrated basic and climate-change threshold assessment scores of 6.5 and 12.5, respectively, were identified for distinguishing reliably between species that pose 'low-to-medium' and 'high' risk of becoming invasive in the risk assessment area. Using these thresholds, 16 species were classified as high risk, 23 as medium risk and six as low risk under current climate conditions. Whereas, under future climate conditions, 13, 30 and two species, respectively, were classified as high, medium and low risk, respectively. Upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda, Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata, sea nettle Chrysaora quinquecirrha and Rhopilema nomadica were the highest-scoring species, with the maximum increase in risk score under predicted climate change conditions being achieved by C. andromeda.

Scyphistomae show different modes of propagation, occasionally allowing the sudden release of great numbers of medusae through strobilation leading to so-called jellyfish blooms. Accordingly, factors regulating asexual reproduction strategies will control scyphistoma density, which, in turn, may influence blooming potential. We studied 11 scyphistoma species in 6 combinations of temperature and food supply to test the effects of these factors on asexual reproduction strategies and reproduction rates. Temperature and food availability increased reproduction rates for all species and observed reproduction modes. In all cases, starvation was the most important factor constraining the asexual reproduction of scyphistomae. Differences in scyphistoma density were found according to the reproductive strategy adopted by each species. Different Aurelia lineages and Sanderia malayensis presented a multi-mode strategy, developing up to 5 propagation modes. These species reached the highest densities, mostly through lateral budding and stolons. Cassiopea sp., Cephea cephea, Mastigias papua and Phyllorhiza punctata adopted a mono-mode reproductive strategy, developing only free-swimming buds. Lychnorhiza lucerna, Rhizostoma pulmo and Rhopilema esculentum also presented a mono-mode strategy, but they only developed podocysts. These 3 species had the lowest reproduction rates and polyp densities; not only their reproduction rates but also the need for a 2-fold set of environmental stimuli to produce new polyps (one for encystment, another for excystment) made this reproduction mode the slowest of those observed to be utilized for propagation. We conclude that blooms may be defined phylogenetically by the specific asexual modes each species develops, which, in turn, is regulated by environmental conditions Fil: Schiariti, Agustin. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina Fil: Morandini, André C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Jarms, Gerhard. Universitat Hamburg; Alemania Fil: von Glehn Paes, Renato. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Franke, Sebastian. Universitat Hamburg; Alemania Fil: Mianzan, Hermes Walter. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina

The occurrence of the white-spotted Australian jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata Lendenfeld, 1884, an Indo-Pacific scyphozoan species mainly restricted to the Levantine Basin, is hereby reported for the first time from Maltese waters (western Mediterranean) and from the Ionian coast of Italy. Considerations on possible vectors of introduction of the jellyfish species to this part of the Mediterranean are made., peer-reviewed

Ao longo das últimas décadas verificou-se um aumento do mercado de organismos ornamentais, tornando-se num mercado bastante lucrativo. Os cnidários são um dos grupos com maior interesse e valorização dentro dos organismos ornamentais, dentro destes as medusas têm captado a atenção como organismos ornamentais, apresentando uma grande margem de progressão, sendo atualmente consideradas como uma espécie emergente na indústria da aquariofilia. Embora existam muitas espécies de medusa com potencial ornamental, a seleção de uma espécie alvo para o uso em aquários domésticos obriga a que sejam eleitos alguns critérios de adequabilidade, nomeadamente não ser letal ou perigosa para o Homem. A espécie Phyllorhiza punctata é uma das espécies com muita procura no mercado ornamental. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar as condições ideais para obter medusas a partir da fase de pólipo. Neste sentido foram realizados vários ensaios de forma a otimizar cada fase do processo. Durante todo o processo de produção de medusas é necessário retirar os pólipos de um lugar para outro, colocando-os em novos substratos e esperar que se fixem. Neste sentido é importante que os pólipos se fixem aos substratos, para que ao serem manipulados não se soltem. Assim, foi realizado um estudo relativo à fixação de pólipos em diferentes substratos, nomeadamente: placa de 6 poços, caixa de petri, gobelet de vidro e de plástico. Verificou-se que os pólipos desta espécie não apresentam preferência por nenhum dos substratos em estudo, apresentando ao final de 7 dias uma taxa de fixação superior a 90% independentemente dos substratos usados. Definido o substrato a utilizar nos ensaios, procedeu-se ao estudo das condições ótimas de temperatura e alimentação na reprodução assexuada por gemulação, tendo sido estudadas três temperaturas (20, 24 e 26ºC), combinadas com duas condições de alimento (com e sem alimentação). Verificou-se que a produção de novos pólipos por gemulação obtém-se fornecendo alimento aos pólipos e mantendo-os a 24 ou 26ºC. Do ponto de vista de desenvolvimento de éfiras em pequenas medusas, testaram-se diferentes alimentações ((A) náuplios de artémia (10 Ind/ml), (B) rotíferos (20 Ind/ml), (C) náuplios de artémia (5 Ind/ml) + rotíferos (10 Ind/ml), (D) Microalga (Nannochloropsis sp., 5x105células/ml), (E) Microalga (Nannochloropsis sp., 5x105células/ml) + náuplios de artémia (10 Ind/ml), (F) Microalga (Nannochloropsis sp., 5x105células/ml) + rotíferos (20Ind/ml)), verificando-se que a utilização de Microalgas + Rotíferos, maximiza o crescimento e a sobrevivência, comparativamente com as restantes dietas em estudo. O presente trabalho permitiu aumentar o conhecimento sobre a reprodução assexuada de pólipos e crescimento de éfiras de P. punctata. Ao longo do trabalho foi possível observar que existem condições chave que permitem otimizar o processo de produção desta espécie em aquacultura. Especialmente a importância da alimentação dos pólipos durante o processo de reprodução assexuada por gemulação, bem como da alimentação das éfiras com microalga e rotíferos conjuntamente.

Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 Synonyms in the area: Mastigias scintillae Moreira, 1961. Remarks: considered an invasive species in Atlantic waters (Graham et al. 2003; Bolton & Graham 2004). At the first invasion event in Brazil, the species was considered new to science (Moreira 1961) and suddenly disappeared. After more than 30 years, the species re-appeared and was studied and reported by Silveira & Cornelius (2000), Haddad & Nogueira Jr (2006), and Morandini et al. (2006b). Distribution in South America: medusa���Atlantic Ocean, Brazil from 3��N to 27��S (Silveira & Cornelius 2000; Haddad & Nogueira Jr 2006; Morandini et al. 2006b; Silveira & Morandini 2011; Nogueira Jr. 2012). Habitat: neritic species commonly found in estuaries and in coastal waters (Silveira & Cornelius 2000)., Published as part of M. P. Oliveira 1,16, S P. Miranda 2, *,, Es W. Mianzan 10,, Ro E. Migotto 11,, Ne B. Nascimento 2,11, Eli Nogueira J��nior 12,, Er Qui��ones 13,, Izio Scarabino 14,, T��n Schiariti 10,, Io N. Stampar 15,, Tronolone 2, , Qu��ria B. & Onio C. Marques 2,11, 2016, Census of Cnidaria (Medusozoa) and Ctenophora from South American marine waters, pp. 1-256 in Zootaxa 4194 (1) on page 207, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4194.1.1

Alien jellyfish species are increasing in the Mediterranean coast of Syria. The Lattakia port area has been monitored since 2010, and three gelatinous species (Phyllorhiza punctata, Cassiopea andromeda and Salpa maxima) were recorded for the first time in Syrian coastal waters (Durgham, J Oceans Oceanogr 5:153-155, 2011; Siokou et al, Mediterr Mar Sci 14:238-249, 2013; Bilecenoglu et al, Mediterr Mar Sci 14:463-480, 2013). Two specimens of Pelagia noctiluca were caught in the coastal waters about 3 km North West of Lattakia port, after Several hundred dives have been made at more than 20 sites down to 40 m depth. This research led to the identification of the first record of the mauve stinger Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskal, 1775) on the Mediterranean coast of Syria. This jelly fish has been observed on 14 June 2014 near Lattakia Port, and Several observations indicate that these individuals may have been transported via ballast water.

The Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata was reported in September 2011, in Sülüngür Lake, Muğla, on the Southern Aegean coast of Turkey. This is the second record from Turkey. The first record was in 2010 in Iskenderun, on the Levantine coast of Turkey. © 2012 The Author(s). Journal compilation. and 2012 REABIC.

Phyllorhizapunctata, commonly called the Australian white spotted jellyfish, invaded the Caribbean in the 1960s, becoming established there and subsequently in the United States in the northern Gulf of Mexico (by 2000) and eastern Florida (2001). With the prevailing Loop Current flowing clockwise around the Gulf of Mexico and joining the Gulf Stream along eastern Florida, potential transport of P. punctata along the eastern seaboard of the USA could be facilitated. P. punctata medusae were collected in small numbers along the entire Georgia coast during May–November in 2007 and 2008. Medusa bell diameters increased both years from ca. 10 cm in May to ca. 33 cm in autumn. Specimens lacked zooxanthellae, as reported for medusae in the northern Gulf of Mexico and Florida. It is possible that the P. punctata medusae observed were transported from established populations to the south; however, whether or not this species is established along the Georgia coast has yet to be determined.

Phyllorhiza punctata (P. punctata) is a jellyfish native to the southwestern Pacific. Herewith we present the biochemical and pharmacological characterization of an extract of the tentacles of P. punctata. The tentacles were subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles, homogenized, ultrafiltered, precipitated, centrifuged and lyophilized to obtain a crude extract (PHY-N). Paralytic shellfish poisoning compounds such as saxitoxin, gonyautoxin-4, tetrodotoxin and brevetoxin-2, as well as several secretory phospholipase A(2) were identified. PHY-N was tested on autonomic and somatic neuromuscular preparations. In mouse vas deferens, PHY-N induced phasic contractions that reached a peak of 234 ± 34.7% of control twitch height, which were blocked with either 100 μm of phentolamine or 1 mm of lidocaine. In mouse corpora cavernosa, PHY-N evoked a relaxation response, which was blocked with either L-N(G) -Nitroarginine methyl ester (0.5 mm) or 1 mm of lidocaine. PHY-N (1, 3 and 10 μg ml(-1) ) induced an increase in tonus of the biventer-cervicis neuromuscular preparation that was blocked with pre-treatment of galamine (10 μm). Administration of 6 mg kg(-1) PHY-N intramuscularly produced death in broilers by spastic paralysis. In conclusion, PHY-N induces nerve depolarization and nonspecifically increases neurotransmitter release. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en

The Australian spot jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata has not been recorded previously for any coast of Mexico. A giant jellyfish was recorded for the first time in June 2006 in Laguna de Mandinga, southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Between 2007 and 2008, another three adult specimens were collected and later in May 2009 and April-June 2010 a great number of juveniles and adults were observed, of which 142 were collected. The presence of juveniles and adults throughout five consecutive years indicates that the species has a seasonal pattern. It migrates from the Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (SAV) into Laguna de Mandinga during the spring, aided by the tide that flows along the estuary of the Jamapa River. The population then decreases at the end of the summer, during the rainy season, when salinity decreases (10 psu). The recruitment area of the polyps is probably associated with the coral reefs in the SAV.

* Corresponding author Abstract The gelatinous macroplankters Mnemiopsis leidyi and Phyllorhiza punctata are recorded for the first time from the Italian coasts of the Western Mediterranean. In the framework of the CIESM Jellywatch campaign in the summer of 2009, M. leidyi was recorded from the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian Seas, including swarming episodes that, together with those reported from Spain in the same period, suggest a great success of the species in the Western Mediterranean. A single specimen of P. punctata has been recorded from Sardinia. These species do not sting or harm humans and no impact on tourism is expected, but they might harm fisheries by predating on fish eggs and larvae and their prey, zooplankton. The large distribution area of M. leidyi suggests that the species invaded the Western Mediterranean during the summer of 2009, but its establishment is still uncertain, since the populations might not withstand winter conditions. The isolated record of P. punctata just indicates that it can reach this part of the Mediterranean.

A manipulative mesocosm experiment was done in a saline coastal lake in Australia to compare the top-down and bottom-up influences of jellyfish on primary production and planktonic assemblages. We hypothesized that non-zooxanthellate jellyfish (Catostylus mosaicus) would exert both ‘top-down’ (grazing) and ‘bottom-up’ (nutrient excretion) effects, whereas zooxanthellate jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata) would only exert top-down influences, as their dissolved excretory products are internally recycled to their zooxanthellae rather than released into the water column. Experimental treatments consisted of triplicate mesocosms that contained two C. mosaicus, two P. punctata, a combination of C. mosaicus and P. punctata, no jellyfish, and an open-water control (sampling outside mesocosms). Both species of jellyfish preyed heavily on mesozooplankton, initiating a topdown trophic cascade that resulted in increased production of the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Protoperidinium sp. However, no increase in primary production or phytoplankton biomass was observed in the treatments containing P. punctata, indicating that top-down processes did not extend to primary producers. Bottom-up excretion of nutrients, however, caused phytoplankton biomass to more than double in the C. mosaicus treatment compared to all other treatments. Increased primary production was due largely to a 10-fold increase in the diatom Chaetoceros sp. and was predominantly driven by C. mosaicus excreting phosphate (PO 3{ 4 ), which was the limiting nutrient in the lake. Blooms of both zooxanthellate and non-zooxanthellate jellyfish will deplete mesozooplankton and alter the composition of microzooplankton assemblages via top-down processes. Excretion of nutrients by blooms of non-zooxanthellate jellyfish, however, can also greatly increase phytoplankton production and could favor algal blooms.

WOS: 000392316000003, This contribution forms part of a series of collective articles published regularly in Mediterranean Marine Science that report on new biodiversity records from the Mediterranean basin. The current article presents 51 geographically distinct records for 21 taxa belonging to 6 Phyla, extending from the western Mediterranean to the Levantine. The new records, per country, are as follows: Spain: the cryptogenic calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna is reported from a new location in the Alicante region. Algeria: the rare Atlanto-Mediterranean bivalve Cardium indicum is reported from Annaba. Tunisia: new distribution records for the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois miles from Zembra Island and Cape Bon. Italy: the ark clam Anadara transversa is reported from mussel cultures in the Gulf of Naples, while the amphipod Caprella scaura and the isopods Paracerceis sculpta and Paranthura japonica are reported as associated to the -also allochthonous- bryozoan Amathia verticillata in the Adriatic Sea; in the latter region, the cosmopolitan Atlantic tripletail Lobotes surinamensis is also reported, a rare finding for the Mediterranean. Slovenia: a new record of the non-indigenous nudibranch Polycera hedgpethi in the Adriatic. Greece: several new reports of the introduced scleractinian Oculina patagonica, the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina, the blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster (all Atlantic), and the lionfish Pterois miles (Indo-Pacific) suggest their ongoing establishment in the Aegean Sea; the deepest bathymetric record of the invasive alga Caulerpa cylindracea in the Mediterranean Sea is also registered in the Kyklades, at depths exceeding 70 m. Turkey: new distribution records for two non-indigenous crustaceans, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Atlantic origin) and the moon crab Matuta victor (Indo-Pacific origin) from the Bay of Izmir and Antalya, respectively; in the latter region, the Red Sea goatfish Parupeneus forsskali, is also reported. Lebanon: an array of records of 5 alien and one native Mediterranean species is reported by citizen-scientists; the Pacific jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata and the Indo-Pacific teleosteans Tylerius spinosissimus, Ostracion cubicus, and Lutjanus argentimaculatus are reported from the Lebanese coast, the latter notably being the second record for the species in the Mediterranean Sea since 1977; the native sand snake-eel Ophisurus serpens, rare in the eastern Mediterranean, is reported for the first time from Lebanon, this being its easternmost distribution range; finally, a substantial number of sightings of the lionfish Pterois miles further confirm the current establishment of this lessepsian species in the Levantine., COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TD1209 Alien Challenge project; East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species - a tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS) (EEA) project [33-51/30.06.2015]; EEA GRANTS; Public Investments Programme (PIP) of the Hellenic Republic; Cretaquarium, Nadhera Babali would like to thank Mr Nabil Hadjadji and Mr Mhamed Laid for taking pictures of the specimen of Cardium indicum during collection, which helped with identification of the collection date and site, as well as Mr Samuel Iglesias for valuable guidance. Gianna Servello and Fabio Crocetta acknowledge the study of the alien species recorded in the Italian Seas that was partially funded by the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action TD1209 Alien Challenge (GS) and the East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species - a tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS) (EEA funded: Contract No. -33-51/30.06.2015) (FC) projects. Francesco Tiralongo is grateful to the fishermen of the vessel "Oreste" (3288) who caught the specimen of Lobotes surinamensis, for providing the information and the picture. The reports of Caulerpa cylindracea, Oculina patagonica, and Enchelycore anatina were conducted along a survey in the Aegean Sea within the framework of the MARISCA project, co-funded (85%) by EEA GRANTS, 2009-2014, and the Public Investments Programme (PIP) of the Hellenic Republic (15%). Thomas Hasiotis and Stelios Katsanevakis thank Kostas Tsiamis for his comments on an earlier draft of their manuscript. Michail Ragkousis and Vasilis Gerovasileiou are thankful to Nina Premezzi and Ioannis Havakis who provided information and photos about the later record of E. anatina. Aspasia Sterioti sincerely thanks Cretaquarium for support and funding, G. Vardanis for the transportation and photo of the species and C.K. Doxa for the photo of the species. Fabio Crocetta and Michel Bariche acknowledge Messrs T. Assal, M. Ali Ibrahim, J. Bacha, J. Bahout, V. Bayrakdarian, D. Captan, K. Greig, M. Hado, M. Hayek, J.-P. Massoud K. Merhabi, W. Nini, H. Rifai, N. Saidi, E. Saliba, I. Sidawi, N. Weber, and several other fishermen and scuba divers who kindly provided records, photographs and videos of the reported animals from Lebanon. Finally, thanks are due to all anonymous reviewers for critical reading and providing helpful and constructive comments on the included articles.

Ephyrae and adult medusae of Phyllorhiza punctata were found in 2005 and 2006 in the Ionian Sea, Greece. The youngest ephyrae had a diameter of 1.5 mm and already contained symbiotic zooxanthellae. The biggest medusae, with 45 cm bell diameter, were found in September 2005 in the Bay of Vlyho on the Ionian Island Lefkada. There they occurred simultaneously with ephyrae and young medusae. Adult medusae were also observed in September 2006 in the harbour of Igoumenitsa. In a laboratory maintenance trial, collected ephyrae grew to an umbrella diameter of 4.6 cm in 60 days. This is the first record of a reproducing population of tropical medusae in the Central Mediterranean Sea.

Relações de tamanho e peso são dados básicos importantes para facilitar estimativas de estoques, de monitoramentos contínuos e de larga escala das espécies, além de permitir a obtenção de valores de biomassa a partir da distribuição de tamanho. Apesar destes dados serem básicos e de reconhecida importância ecológica e sócio-econômica, estudos biométricos das grandes medusas do litoral brasileiro ainda inexistem. Apresenta-se, neste estudo, as relações de tamanho e peso das seis espécies de macromedusas mais comuns no litoral paranaense: Tamoya haplonema Müller, 1859 e Chiropsalmus quadrumanus (Müller, 1859) - Cubozoa; Olindias sambaquiensis Müller, 1861 - Hydrozoa; Chrysaora lactea Eschscholtz, 1829, Lychnorhiza lucerna Haeckel, 1880 e Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 - Scyphozoa. Foram utilizadas equações do tipo Y = aXb onde, Y = peso úmido; X = diâmetro da umbrela (com exceção de T. haplonema, para a qual utilizou-se a medida de altura umbrelar); a e b são os parâmetros estimados para cada população. A maioria das espécies estudadas apresentou alometria negativa, uma vez que b era menor que 3 na maioria dos casos, variando entre 2,415 e 3,028.

As espécies de Cubozoa e Scyphozoa costeiras que ocorrem no Brasil são descritas, com base em espécimes de coleções de museus e exemplares recém-coletados. Chaves de identificação e um glossário também são apresentados. As espécies descritas são: Aurelia sp.; Cassiopea xamachana Bigelow, 1892; Chiropsalmus quadrumanus (Müller, 1859); Chrysaora lactea Eschscholtz, 1829; Drymonema dalmatinum Haeckel, 1880; Linuche unguiculata (Swartz, 1788); Lychnorhiza lucerna Haeckel, 1880; Nausithoe aurea Silveira & Morandini, 1997; Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884; Stomolophus meleagris Agassiz, 1862; Tamoya haplonema Müller, 1859 e Tripedalia cystophora Conant, 1897. Coastal species of Cubozoa and Scyphozoa occurring in Brazil are described, based on museum specimens and recently collected ones. Identification keys and a glossary are also presented. The listed species are: Aurelia sp.; Cassiopea xamachana Bigelow, 1892; Chiropsalmus quadrumanus (Müller, 1859); Chrysaora lactea Eschscholtz, 1829; Drymonema dalmatinum Haeckel, 1880; Linuche unguiculata (Swartz, 1788); Lychnorhiza lucerna Haeckel, 1880; Nausithoe aurea Silveira & Morandini, 1997; Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884; Stomolophus meleagris Agassiz, 1862; Tamoya haplonema Müller, 1859; and Tripedalia cystophora Conant, 1897.

We examined the cnidomes (total complement of nematocysts) of medusae of the zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate jellyfishes Phyllorhiza punctata and Catostylus mosaicus (Rhizostomeae, Scyphozoa), and compared the assemblages of zooplankton captured on the oral arms of each species to determine whether differences in the types or amount of zooplankton captured were consistent with possible differences in the cnidomes. Cnidomes were described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Each species had a distinct cnidome and, in general, P. punctata appeared to have far fewer nematocysts than C. mosaicus. Four types of nematocysts were identified in C. mosaicus; two types of holotrichous isorhizae, rhopaloids, and birhopaloids. Oral arms and bell margins of C. mosaicus possessed all of these types, but the cnidomes of the two regions differed in relative abundances and sizes of isorhizae and rhopaloids. Five types of nematocysts were identified in P. punctata, although not all types were found in all specimens. Round holotrichous isorhizae were found in bells only, while oval holotrichous isorhizae, rhopaloids of two distinct size ranges, and birhopaloids, were found in bells and oral arms. Cnidomes of bells and oral arms in P. punctata also differed in the relative abundances and sizes of oval isorhizae and medium-sized rhopaloids. Although there were clear differences in the overall cnidomes and absolute abundances of nematocysts in each species, the oral arms (feeding appendages) of both C. mosaicus and P. punctata had similar types and relative abundances of nematocysts. Zooplankton sampled from the oral arms of each species showed that both C. mosaicus and P. punctata preyed predominantly on copepod nauplii, and larval gastropods and bivalves. C. mosaicus captured approximately 10 times more gastropod larvae and five times more bivalve larvae than P. punctata, and P. punctata captured approximately twice as many copepod nauplii as C. mosaicus. Differences in the relative abundances of zooplankton captured by each species could not be adequately explained by differences in the cnidomes of the oral arms.

The rhizostome jellyfishes, Catostylus mosaicus and Phyllorhiza punctata abound in estuaries in New South Wales, Australia. P. punctata contains symbiotic zooxanthellae but C. mosaicus contains few or no zooxanthellae. Our experiment measured the rates at which NH 3 , PO 4 and NO x were taken up or excreted by each species and in two controls: a “water only” control and a “mucus” control. Rates of uptake or excretion were measured as changes in the nutrient concentration of the water in the containers housing the animals over periods of 6 h. Experiments were repeated twice during the day and twice at night, under both ambient and enriched nutrient conditions. Under ambient nutrient conditions, the flux of NH 3 in the P. punctata treatment did not differ from the controls but under enriched conditions P. punctata excreted NH 3 during the night (49 μg kg −1 WW (wet weight) h −1 ) and took up NH 3 during the day (123 μg kg −1 WW h −1 ). In contrast, C. mosaicus excreted NH 3 at a rate of 1555 μg kg −1 WW h −1 during the day and 1004 μg kg −1 WW h −1 during the night under both enriched and ambient nutrient conditions. P. punctata neither took up nor excreted PO 4 but C. mosaicus excreted PO 4 at a faster rate during the day than night (173 μg kg −1 WW h −1 cf. 104 μg kg −1 WW h −1 ). Both C. mosaicus and P. punctata excreted NO x and, although the rate of excretion for P. punctata varied between the two experiments conducted during the day, the rate of excretion was consistently greater than for C. mosaicus (52 and 80 μg kg −1 WW h −1 cf. 26 μg kg −1 WW h −1) . Tubs containing P. punctata had a much greater concentration of dissolved oxygen at the end of the experiments conducted during the day (152% saturation) than night (60% saturation) but tubs containing C. mosaicus had a greater dissolved oxygen concentration during the night (47% saturation) than day (39%). Overall, C. mosaicus appears to recycle more inorganic nutrients to estuaries than P. punctata . Calculations of the importance of inorganic nitrogen excreted by this species during times of peak biomass in Lake Illawarra suggest that it can meet about 8% of the phytoplankton primary production requirements of N and that its inorganic N excretion rate is about 11% of measured inorganic ammonia fluxes from sediments in that system. Since the biomass of C. mosaicus often exceeds several thousand tonnes, the contribution of inorganic nutrients by this species is substantial.

In the spring of 2000, millions of the non-endemic jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata were found in coastal regions of the Mississippi Bight in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The aggregations were large enough to seriously impact local fisheries by clogging shrimp nets and damaging gear. More importantly perhaps, the impact on plankton biomass and hence on fishery resources were potentially large, since P. punctata is a voracious filter feeder. In this study, we examine a hypothesis for their sudden appearance which involves advection from the Caribbean in an intruding Loop Current and subsequent flux onto the Mississippi Shelf through eddy-shedding processes which interact with the continental shelf/slope. Surface current data were obtained from an archived finite difference model of the Gulf of Mexico which used altimeter data assimilation and real wind forcing covering the time of the invasion. Model and satellite data showed that an exchange event occurred in late April at a time appropriate for the invasion. The results from tracing transport pathways suggest that mass redistribution of Caribbean populations into the northern Gulf of Mexico can be accomplished via Loop Current intrusion and flux of deep basin water onto the shelf. As such, the occurrence of the invasive species P. punctata in the northern Gulf in 2000 can be explained by a natural, but not necessarily common, sequence of events. This hypothesis is discussed as a means of redistribution of a species by invasion as opposed to redistribution by diffusive spreading.

The Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata appeared in the Northern Gulf of Mexico in spectacular numbers during the summer of 2000. P. punctata was first described from Eastern Australia, although its native habitat probably extends across Northern Australia and into SE Asia. Among invasive marine species, P. punctata has a relatively well-documented history of in- vading tropical and subtropical environments. Despite this, there is no direct evidence of transloca- tion routes or the mechanisms by which translocation has occurred. The invasion of the Northern Gulf of Mexico has been theorized to represent an inevitable distributional shift of an invasive hub popu- lation in the Caribbean Sea facilitated by periodic oceanographic connections between the regions, or by the transportation of benthic scyphistomae on the hulls of ships. Regardless of the translocation mechanism, the relatively close geographical proximity of the Caribbean to the Northern Gulf of Mexico makes this theory conceptually appealing. Based on a 'hub and spoke' model of marine bio- invasion, we postulated that populations of P. punctata from regions more geographically distant than those from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico have been separated for longer periods of time; therefore, populations from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico would bear greater morphological similarity to each other than to those of other regions due to higher levels of underlying genetic relat- edness. We used multivariate analyses to compare the morphological similarity of 6 populations of P. punctata distributed between the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and the east and west coasts of Aus- tralia. Contrary to our expectations, analyses showed that populations from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are the least similar to each other. The analyses suggest that the invasive population in the Gulf of Mexico is most likely to have originated from geographically disparate populations in either Australia or the west coast of the United States. Populations from Australia and the west coast of the United States were the most similar to each other, while the Caribbean population bore the least similarity to all other populations.

Ecological studies involving large jellyfish have been limited by the inability of oceanographers to measure the abundance and distribution patterns of these highly aggregated ani- mals at local scales. Conventional plankton nets are undesirable in these applications because they cannot sample volumes large enough to accurately determine jellyfish concentration, nor do they have adequate spatial resolution to account for the ubiquitous patchiness of most large jellies. Nets are also notorious for damaging the watery bodies of jellyfish. To overcome these problems, we have developed a video system for use in the in situ study of large jellyfish. The design of our JellyCam is easily replicated since it incorporates commercially available components within a frame designed to hold hydrographic instrumentation available at most marine laboratories. We present data sets from 2 occasions as a demonstration of the utility of the JellyCam. On one occasion, a vertical profile of medusae of Pelagia noctiluca revealed intense layering of these jellyfish at the pronounced halo- cline/pycnocline. Most jellyfish in this layer were swimming toward the surface, and it was hypothe- sized that retarded forward-swimming velocity at the halocline, due to salt retention in jellyfish, caused this accumulation. A separate 800 m long horizontal transect of Phyllorhiza punctata medusae revealed distinct concentrated bands of jellyfish associated with increased chlorophyll concentration. Concomitant hydrographic data from the JellyCam showed that accumulation of both jellyfish and chlorophyll was associated with a hydrographic front. These data sets demonstrate that this system is capable of the desired 2 m 3 resolution, which is adequate for the observation and quantification of jellyfish distributions around small-scale physical discontinuities (e.g. fronts and pycnoclines). A series of side-by-side comparisons with a conventional plankton trawl resulted in comparable mea- surements of large jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) concentrations. Though in situ videography by itself is a powerful tool for investigating jellyfish, its use in conjunction with conventional nets or other technologies, such as acoustics and self-propelled vehicles (e.g. remotely operated vehicles and submersibles), will provide the most comprehensive view of jellyfish distribution in 3 dimensions.

6 pages, 3 figures, The Australian spotted scyphomedusa Phyllorhiza punctata was recorded for the first time in Tunisian waters in August 2012, in the lagoon of Bizerte (Tunisia). Metaephyrae and juveniles occurred simultaneously in August 2012. The occurrence of adult medusae was detected from September to November 2012, and from August to October 2013. This is the second record of a reproducing population of P. punctata in the Mediterranean Sea. The low abundance of mesozooplankton in summer and autumn 2012 coincides temporally with the highest density of P. punctata recorded in the lagoon, suggesting that predation by this alien jellyfish may have been a limiting factor for the mesozooplankton abundance on site. © 2014 Unione Zoologica Italiana, This work was supported by the European project MED-JELLYRISK (ENPI–CBCMED/ref: I-A/1.3/098) and by the cooperation program between Tunisia and France (Jeunes Equipes AIRD; JEAI–ECOBIZ)

Summary Sperm of marine organisms are usually classified as either “primitive” or “modified”. Primitive sperm, with heads comprised of a simple acrosome, spherical nuclei and mitochondria and a free flagellum, are thought to be associated with the occurrence of external fertilization. The implication is, of course, that external fertilization is a primitive condition wherever it occurs. Here the sperm of two Scyphozoa, Catostylus mosaicus (Quoy and Gaimard 1824) and Phyllorhiza punctata von Ledenfeld 1884, are described. Both of these taxa are known to brood planulae and are likely have some sort of internal fertilization. Catostylus mosaicus has a typical “primitive” sperm with a small head (2μm long) comprised of a short cylindrical nucleus, four spherical mitochondria and a some small spherical electron dense spheres that are may be acrosomal in function. The anchoring apparatus is comprised of two centrioles, a complex of satellite fibres and a striated “spur”. The flagellum contains a typical 9+2 axo...

A shoal of the Australian spotted jellyfish, Phyllorhiza punctata, native to the southwestern Pacific, was spotted on July 27, 2009 off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Several recent records suggest that the vessel-transported species may have established a reproducing population.

The Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata has been reported from several locations in the Mediterranean, but the present report is the first record from Turkish waters. Juveniles of the Erythrean alien shrimp scad, Alepes djedaba, were observed nestling among its tentacles. Possible vectors are mentioned. © 2011 The Author(s).