IIMYC   23581
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES MARINAS Y COSTERAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Asexual reproduction strategies and blooming potential in Scyphozoa
Autor/es:
SCHIARITI, A.; MORANDINI, A. C.; JARMS, G.; VON GLEHN PAES, R.; FRANKE, S.; MIANZAN H. W.
Revista:
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
Editorial:
INTER-RESEARCH
Referencias:
Lugar: Oldendorf/Luhe; Año: 2014 vol. 510 p. 241 - 253
ISSN:
0171-8630
Resumen:
Scyphistomae have different ways for propagation and allow the sudden release of great numbers of medusae leading to the so-called jellyfish blooms. Accordingly, factors regulating asexual reproduction strategies will control scyphistoma density that, in turn, might influence blooming potential. We studied 11 scyphistomae 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 asexual reproduction of scyphistomae. Differences in scyphistomae density were found according to the reproductive strategy adopted by each species. Different Aurelia linneages 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 andRhopilema esculentum also presented a mono-mode strategy but developing only podocysts. These species presented the lowest reproduction rates and further polyp densities. In the later case, not only the slowest reproduction rates but also the need of a two-fold set of environmental stimuli for producing new polyps (one for encystment, another for excystment) makes this reproduction mode the slowest among those observed to be utilized for propagation. We concluded blooms might be defined phylogenetically by the specific asexual modes each species developed that, in turn, are regulated by environmental conditions.