Title
Jellyfish Identification and Quantification in the San Francisco Estuary
Recommended Citation
August 1, 2013.
Abstract
As potential predators and competitors of plankton-eating fish, jellyfish have the potential to negatively impact fish populations. Jellyfish were collected weekly with plankton tows from the RombergTiburonCenterpier in Tiburon, CA. Since some jellyfish were too small to identify, one tow was collected and preserved to record abundances, and a second tow was collected to rear jellyfish until distinguishing characteristics were visible enough for identification. Jellyfish in the preserved tows were then identified, measured, and counted, and their abundance (number m-3) was calculated. Jellyfish from the second tows were reared in plastic buckets that were lightly bubbled using aquarium pumps and plastic tubing. Jellyfish were fed plankton (copepods) daily and periodically examined for distinguishing characteristics. Seven species were collected, including Bouginvilla muscus, Coryne eximia, Pleurobrachia bachei, Amphinema sp. (Rees, 2000), Obelia sp., and Turritopsis sp. One species remains unidentified. Species identification is important for monitoring invasions and determining habitat ranges. Abundances ranged from 0 to 33 jellyfish m-3. Data on abundance is important for monitoring potential interactions with fish through predation and competition.
Disciplines
Biology | Population Biology | Science and Mathematics Education | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
Mentor
Lindsay J. Sullivan
Lab site
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
Funding Acknowledgement
This material is based upon work supported by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0952013 and Grant No. 0833353. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation or the National Science Foundation. This project has also been made possible with support of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The STAR program is administered by the Cal Poly Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) on behalf of the California State University (CSU).
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/271