The effects of food and temperature on settlement of Aurelia aurita planula larvae and subsequent somatic growth

• Published in: Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology Vol. 436-437; pp. 50 - 55
• Main Authors: Webster, Clare N., Lucas, Cathy H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.12.2012
• Subjects: Aurelia aurita; Jellyfish; Marine; Planula larvae; Scyphistoma; Scyphozoa; Settlement; ANE, British Isles, England; Aurelia aurita; Settlement; Jellyfish; Scyphistoma; Scyphozoa; Planula larvae
• ISSN: 0022-0981; 1879-1697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2012.08.014

The occurrence and magnitude of coastal scyphozoan jellyfish blooms can only be predicted with knowledge of how the environment influences every stage of the life cycle. This study provides the first information on the effects of food and temperature on the settlement of Aurelia aurita planulae. Planulae from mature medusae collected in southern England (50° 48′ 3.86″ N, 1° 25′ 23.06″ W) were used for experiments. They were introduced to six different treatments: three temperatures (6°C, 12°C, 18°C) at both high and low food feeding regimes. Although settling rate was faster at higher temperatures, significantly fewer planulae settled at the highest temperature. Four types of asexual reproduction were observed in the high food treatments at higher temperatures. Temperature had a significant positive effect on somatic growth of scyphistomae. Food had a significant positive effect on the somatic growth of those with four and more tentacles, and the interaction of the two had a significant positive effect on those with eight and sixteen tentacles. ► Planula larvae were collected from wild caught Aurelia aurita medusae. ► Experiments consisted of six treatments with three temperatures and two feeding regimes. ► Significantly fewer planula larvae settled faster at higher temperatures. ► Somatic growth of subsequent scyphistomae varied among the different treatments.