Effects of temperature and light intensity on asexual reproduction of the scyphozoan, Aurelia aurita (L.) in Taiwan
Liu, W.-C.; Lo, W.-T.; Purcell, J.E.; Chang, H.-H. (2009). Effects of temperature and light intensity on asexual reproduction of the scyphozoan, Aurelia aurita (L.) in Taiwan. Hydrobiologia 616(1): 247-258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9597-4
In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117, more
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| Keywords |
Blooms
Climate
Scyphozoa [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
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| Authors | | Top |
- Liu, W.-C.
- Lo, W.-T.
- Purcell, J.E.
- Chang, H.-H.
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| Abstract |
Jellyfish blooms cause problems worldwide, and they may increase with global warming, water pollution, and over fishing. Benthic polyps (scyphistomae) asexually produce buds and small jellyfish (ephyrae), and this process may determine the population size of the large, swimming scyp-homedusae. Environmental factors that affect the asexual reproduction rates include food, temperature, salinity, and light. In this study, polyps of Aurelia aurita (L.), which inhabit Tapong Bay, southwest Taiwan, were tested in nine combinations of temperature (20, 25, 30°C) and light intensity (372, 56, and 0 lux) in a 12 h light-12 h dark photoperiod. Production of new buds decreased with warmer temperature and stronger light intensity. Warm temperature accelerated strobilation and increased the daily production of ephyrae. The proportion of ephyrae of total asexual reproduction (new buds + ephyrae) increased dramatically in warmer temperature and more light. Survival was reduced in the highest temperature. Strobilation did not occur in the lowest temperature in darkness. All measures of total asexual reproduction indicated that mid- to high temperatures would lead to faster production of more jellyfish. Continuous high temperatures might result in high polyp mortality. Light affected asexual reproduction less than did temperature, only significantly accelerating the strobilation rate. Because the interactive effects of light and temperature were significant for the time period polyps survived and the potential production of jellyfish polyp-1, combined light and temperature effects probably are important for strobilation in situ. |
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