The Great Barrier Reef
198
Cydip pida, Fig. 18.8A) have a small spherical body
with two tentacles. Bolinopsis-type comb jellies
(Order Lobata, Fig. 18.8C) have an egg-shaped body
with two large lobes. Beroe-type comb jellies (Order
Beroida, Fig. 18.8B) have a flattened palm-of-thehand-shaped body without tentacles. (Box 18.3.)
ADDITIONAL READING
Arai, M. N. (1997). ‘A Functional Biology of Scyphozoa.’ (Chapman & Hall: London.)
Brusca, R. C., and Brusca, G. J. B. (2002). ‘Invertebrates.’
2nd edn. (Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.)
Gershwin, L. (2005). ‘Taxonomy and Phylogeny of
Australian Cubozoa.’ (School of Marine Biology and
Aquaculture: James Cook University, Townsville.)
Harbison, G. R. (1985). On the classification and evolution of the Ctenophora. In ‘The Origins and
Relationships of Lower Invertebrates’. (Eds S. C.
Morris, J. D. George, R. Gibson and H. M. Plattpp.)
pp. 78–100. (Oxford University Press: Oxford.)
Kingsford, M. J., Pitt, K. A., and Gillanders, B. M. (2000).
Management of jellyfish fisheries, with special reference to the order Rhizostomeae. Oceanography and
Marine Biology: An Annual Review 38, 85–156.
Kramp, P. L. (1961). Synopsis of the medusae of the
world. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of
the United Kingdom 40, 1–469.
Mayer, A. G. (1910). ‘Medusae of the World. Vols 1 and 2,
the Hydromedusae; Vol. 3, the Scyphomedusae.’
(Carnegie Institution: Washington, DC.)
Totton, A. K. (1965). ‘A Synopsis of the Siphonophora.’
(British Museum of Natural History, London:
London.)
Williamson, J. A. Fenner, P. J. Burnett, J. W., and Rifkin,
J. F. (Eds) (1996). ‘Venomous and Poisonous Marine Animals: A Medical and Biological Handbook.’
(NSW University Press: Sydney.)
See web site for an extended list, with updates, available at http://www.australiancoralreefsociety.org/
[Verified 21 March 2008].
BOX 18.3 COMB JELLIES: ALIEN INVADERS
Comb jellies are well known as invaders. For example, Mnemiopsis leidyi, a lobate ctenophore in the Class Tentaculata were inadvertently carried in ships’ ballast water from the
Chesapeake to the Black Sea in the early 1980’s. Without natural predators, by 1990 they
had bloomed so much that surveys estimated that Mnemiopsis now comprised one billion tons of biomass in the Black Sea. This one species single-handedly caused the collapse of an ecosystem and the fisheries that went with it. This case has been well studied,
and it is believed that the jellyfish ate the larvae of other species including sardines, as
well as the food sources that the larvae would eat; this combination of direct and indirect
effects prevented other species from regaining viable populations.
Elsewhere in the world, other ctenophore and medusa species have been considered
pests, either through exotic species introductions, or through local perturbations that
allowed the jellyfishes to alter existing ecosystems; perturbations include overfishing,
pollution, and changes in water temperature. Jellyfish can bloom rapidly when conditions are ideal or go for long periods of time without food if necessary. Their potential to
quickly change pelagic assemblages, therefore, is great.
198
Cydip pida, Fig. 18.8A) have a small spherical body
with two tentacles. Bolinopsis-type comb jellies
(Order Lobata, Fig. 18.8C) have an egg-shaped body
with two large lobes. Beroe-type comb jellies (Order
Beroida, Fig. 18.8B) have a flattened palm-of-thehand-shaped body without tentacles. (Box 18.3.)
ADDITIONAL READING
Arai, M. N. (1997). ‘A Functional Biology of Scyphozoa.’ (Chapman & Hall: London.)
Brusca, R. C., and Brusca, G. J. B. (2002). ‘Invertebrates.’
2nd edn. (Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.)
Gershwin, L. (2005). ‘Taxonomy and Phylogeny of
Australian Cubozoa.’ (School of Marine Biology and
Aquaculture: James Cook University, Townsville.)
Harbison, G. R. (1985). On the classification and evolution of the Ctenophora. In ‘The Origins and
Relationships of Lower Invertebrates’. (Eds S. C.
Morris, J. D. George, R. Gibson and H. M. Plattpp.)
pp. 78–100. (Oxford University Press: Oxford.)
Kingsford, M. J., Pitt, K. A., and Gillanders, B. M. (2000).
Management of jellyfish fisheries, with special reference to the order Rhizostomeae. Oceanography and
Marine Biology: An Annual Review 38, 85–156.
Kramp, P. L. (1961). Synopsis of the medusae of the
world. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of
the United Kingdom 40, 1–469.
Mayer, A. G. (1910). ‘Medusae of the World. Vols 1 and 2,
the Hydromedusae; Vol. 3, the Scyphomedusae.’
(Carnegie Institution: Washington, DC.)
Totton, A. K. (1965). ‘A Synopsis of the Siphonophora.’
(British Museum of Natural History, London:
London.)
Williamson, J. A. Fenner, P. J. Burnett, J. W., and Rifkin,
J. F. (Eds) (1996). ‘Venomous and Poisonous Marine Animals: A Medical and Biological Handbook.’
(NSW University Press: Sydney.)
See web site for an extended list, with updates, available at http://www.australiancoralreefsociety.org/
[Verified 21 March 2008].
BOX 18.3 COMB JELLIES: ALIEN INVADERS
Comb jellies are well known as invaders. For example, Mnemiopsis leidyi, a lobate ctenophore in the Class Tentaculata were inadvertently carried in ships’ ballast water from the
Chesapeake to the Black Sea in the early 1980’s. Without natural predators, by 1990 they
had bloomed so much that surveys estimated that Mnemiopsis now comprised one billion tons of biomass in the Black Sea. This one species single-handedly caused the collapse of an ecosystem and the fisheries that went with it. This case has been well studied,
and it is believed that the jellyfish ate the larvae of other species including sardines, as
well as the food sources that the larvae would eat; this combination of direct and indirect
effects prevented other species from regaining viable populations.
Elsewhere in the world, other ctenophore and medusa species have been considered
pests, either through exotic species introductions, or through local perturbations that
allowed the jellyfishes to alter existing ecosystems; perturbations include overfishing,
pollution, and changes in water temperature. Jellyfish can bloom rapidly when conditions are ideal or go for long periods of time without food if necessary. Their potential to
quickly change pelagic assemblages, therefore, is great.