Behavioural and oceanographic isolation of an island-based jellyfish (Copula sivickisi, Class Cubozoa) population.

ABSTRACT: Cubozoan jellyfish are classified as plankton despite the strong swimming and orientation abilities of cubomedusae. How these capabilities could affect cubozoan population structures is poorly understood. Medusae of the cubozoan Copula sivickisi can uniquely attach to surfaces with the sticky pads on their bells. Biophysical modelling was used to investigate the spatial scales of connectivity in a C. sivickisi population. When the medusae were active at night they could maintain their observed distribution on fringing reef if they attached to the reef when the current speed exceeded a moderate threshold. This behaviour facilitated the isolation of a C. sivickisi population on reefs fringing Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia. Within this distribution, there was considerable within bay

SUBMITTER: Schlaefer JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8119444 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature