Publication Date:
2022-06-02
Description:
During 1982, 1983 and 1984 numbers of planulae within the oral arms of the common jellyfish Aurelia aurita were counted, and the organic content of the larvae was determined through C/N analysis. The total numbers of larvae produced by females of the same size increased during the period of investigation by a factor of 4-5, and a good linear correlation between the amount of larvae and body weight of the females were observed. In contrast, the averaged carbon content of the planulae decreased from 0.68 µg C per individual in 1982 to 0.28 µg C per individual in 1984. On average, larvae represented 17% of the carbon content of a female in 1982, 25% in 1983 and 37% in 1984. Partitioning of this organic matter among larvae differed from year to year: low numbers of planulae with a high organic content were observed in 1982, very high numbers with a low organic content in 1984, and intermediate in 1983. Thus breeding behaviour of the common jellyfish seems to be a complex process and there is evidence that medusae abundance and estimated food availability ragulate reproduction in Aurelia aurita populations.
Type:
Article
,
NonPeerReviewed
Format:
text
