March of 2010 brought some good results in the realm of ephyrae testing. Since the installation of our third system, we have finally been able to get numbers from the different systems in terms of mortality (see results). March was all about taking mortality of the ephyrae. Again, these results are on the results page.
March also was an opportunity to take more pictures of the systems and learn more about the jellies. I researched the different taxonomic structures of jellies and found out what most of the classifications identify.
Domain- Eukarya
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Cnidaria
(sea jellies, corals, anemones)
Class- Schyphozoa
(“true” jellies)
Order- Semaeostomeae
(frilly oral arms)
Family- Pelagiidae
(Chrysaora, Pelagia, Sanderia)
Genus- Chrysaora
(fuscescens,melanaster, quinquecirrha)
Species- fuscescens
I learned a lot about the taxonomic structure. Additionally, Aaron and I, with the assistance of Dr. Al Dove, took pictures of the nematocysts in the tentacles of some fuscescens medusas.
Here is the tentacle under a stereo microscope:
And here are the nematocysts themselves. Note that these nematocysts were separated from the tentacle.
I spent the latter portion of March and the beginning of April forming my final presentation, which will be delivered on April 29, 2010 at the Georgia Aquarium. I'm VERY pleased by the amount of information I have gotten. I am slightly disappointed that we could not get more ephyrae, but ultimately, you can't quite force nature (well, strobilation is hard to force, as we have found!)
March also was an opportunity to take more pictures of the systems and learn more about the jellies. I researched the different taxonomic structures of jellies and found out what most of the classifications identify.
Domain- Eukarya
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Cnidaria
(sea jellies, corals, anemones)
Class- Schyphozoa
(“true” jellies)
Order- Semaeostomeae
(frilly oral arms)
Family- Pelagiidae
(Chrysaora, Pelagia, Sanderia)
Genus- Chrysaora
(fuscescens, melanaster, quinquecirrha)
Species- fuscescens
I learned a lot about the taxonomic structure. Additionally, Aaron and I, with the assistance of Dr. Al Dove, took pictures of the nematocysts in the tentacles of some fuscescens medusas.
Here is the tentacle under a stereo microscope:
I spent the latter portion of March and the beginning of April forming my final presentation, which will be delivered on April 29, 2010 at the Georgia Aquarium. I'm VERY pleased by the amount of information I have gotten. I am slightly disappointed that we could not get more ephyrae, but ultimately, you can't quite force nature (well, strobilation is hard to force, as we have found!)