Water jellies, crystal jelly • Aequorea spp.: Aequorea victoria, Aquorea aquorea, Aequorea forskalea, Aequorea flava
|
|
Water jellies found in the waters around Calvert Island. Photos by Drew Baker (left), Paula Crozier (top right), and Laura (bottom right).
Identification
These hydromedusae look like curved bicycle wheels; they have 60 or more "spokes" (radial canals) which radiate from the central manubrium - the mouth that hangs down in the centre. The bell of these jellies, which arches over the manubrium and isn't always visible, is thick and gelatinous. Water jellies are bioluminescent, and so will fluoresce a green light at the margin of their bell when disturbed. When not fluorescing and not near a source of ambient light, these species appear colourless and transparent, and can be difficult to make out in cloudy water. They reach 17.5 cm in diameter.
The two videos below show water jellies that are not in their bioluminescent state, but instead are lit with ambient light. Bioluminescence from these species appears as a ring of green dots - only the rim of the jelly's bell emits light. Click here to read more information about this process, and the confusion surrounding the appearance of bioluminescence.
These hydromedusae look like curved bicycle wheels; they have 60 or more "spokes" (radial canals) which radiate from the central manubrium - the mouth that hangs down in the centre. The bell of these jellies, which arches over the manubrium and isn't always visible, is thick and gelatinous. Water jellies are bioluminescent, and so will fluoresce a green light at the margin of their bell when disturbed. When not fluorescing and not near a source of ambient light, these species appear colourless and transparent, and can be difficult to make out in cloudy water. They reach 17.5 cm in diameter.
The two videos below show water jellies that are not in their bioluminescent state, but instead are lit with ambient light. Bioluminescence from these species appears as a ring of green dots - only the rim of the jelly's bell emits light. Click here to read more information about this process, and the confusion surrounding the appearance of bioluminescence.
|
|
|
Habitat & Range
These pelagic jellies are found in nearshore waters along the coast of North America from northern Alaska to northern Mexico. They are particularly common along the BC and Washington coasts.
Similar Species
There is some confusion surrounding the taxonomy of Aequorea spp. found in the Pacific Northwest: the identified species, listed above, may in fact be just one species. If they are separate species, they are extremely difficult to tell apart; additionally, the water jellies found in the Pacific Northwest are difficult to tell apart from ones found elsewhere in the world that are known to be distinct species. Some identification guides simply list Aequorea victoria, while some group them as Aequorea spp.. A scientist studying Aequorea in Friday Harbour states that there is only one species found in Washington and southern BC waters; read more about the Aequorea confusion on his University of Washington website.
Human Uses
Aequorea species, particularly Aequorea victoria, are often present in aquarium displays of bioluminescent jellyfish. Both the Vancouver Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium have prominent jellyfish displays.
Aequorea is the source of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) that is used as a marker in genetics and other areas of molecular biology. The three scientists who discovered GFP and developed its use as a marker won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Another protein, called aequorin after Aequorea, emits a blue ilght, which GFP translates into a green light. When GFP is inserted into a cell, tissue, or organism, it can be found by shining ultraviolet light on the subject. Click here to read more about the development and uses of GFP.
Intriguing Info
Jellyfish species can differ in life history between existing only as polyps, existing only as medusae, or beginning life as polyps and budding off into medusae. Aequorea starts off in an attached hydroid (polyp) form, then in spring tiny medusae bud off the polyp and grow into full-sized jellyfish. Budding is based on an environmental cue that has yet to be determined. They live for about six months in this form, and so will disappear from coastal waters by mid fall. Polyps live throughout the winter, and bud off new medusae in the spring.
Water jellies eat other jellyfish, ctenophores, and other soft-bodied pelagic invertebrates. They may also be cannibalistic.
Read more interesting information and see more pictures of water jellies in the video below:
These pelagic jellies are found in nearshore waters along the coast of North America from northern Alaska to northern Mexico. They are particularly common along the BC and Washington coasts.
Similar Species
There is some confusion surrounding the taxonomy of Aequorea spp. found in the Pacific Northwest: the identified species, listed above, may in fact be just one species. If they are separate species, they are extremely difficult to tell apart; additionally, the water jellies found in the Pacific Northwest are difficult to tell apart from ones found elsewhere in the world that are known to be distinct species. Some identification guides simply list Aequorea victoria, while some group them as Aequorea spp.. A scientist studying Aequorea in Friday Harbour states that there is only one species found in Washington and southern BC waters; read more about the Aequorea confusion on his University of Washington website.
Human Uses
Aequorea species, particularly Aequorea victoria, are often present in aquarium displays of bioluminescent jellyfish. Both the Vancouver Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium have prominent jellyfish displays.
Aequorea is the source of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) that is used as a marker in genetics and other areas of molecular biology. The three scientists who discovered GFP and developed its use as a marker won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Another protein, called aequorin after Aequorea, emits a blue ilght, which GFP translates into a green light. When GFP is inserted into a cell, tissue, or organism, it can be found by shining ultraviolet light on the subject. Click here to read more about the development and uses of GFP.
Intriguing Info
Jellyfish species can differ in life history between existing only as polyps, existing only as medusae, or beginning life as polyps and budding off into medusae. Aequorea starts off in an attached hydroid (polyp) form, then in spring tiny medusae bud off the polyp and grow into full-sized jellyfish. Budding is based on an environmental cue that has yet to be determined. They live for about six months in this form, and so will disappear from coastal waters by mid fall. Polyps live throughout the winter, and bud off new medusae in the spring.
Water jellies eat other jellyfish, ctenophores, and other soft-bodied pelagic invertebrates. They may also be cannibalistic.
Read more interesting information and see more pictures of water jellies in the video below:
References
Aequorea victoria (Murbach and Shearer, 1902). In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2012. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 06/08/2013.
Cowles, D. (2006). Aequorea victoria (Murbach and Shearer, 1902). Invertebrates of the Salish Sea. Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. Accessed 06/08/2013.
Harbo, R. M. (2011). Whelks to whales: Coastal marine life of the Pacific Northwest. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P. 66.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P.107
Mills, C.E. (2009). Bioluminescence and other factoids about Aequorea, a hydromedusa. University of Washington Faculty. Accessed 06/08/2013.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2013).
Aequorea victoria (Murbach and Shearer, 1902). In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2012. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 06/08/2013.
Cowles, D. (2006). Aequorea victoria (Murbach and Shearer, 1902). Invertebrates of the Salish Sea. Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. Accessed 06/08/2013.
Harbo, R. M. (2011). Whelks to whales: Coastal marine life of the Pacific Northwest. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P. 66.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P.107
Mills, C.E. (2009). Bioluminescence and other factoids about Aequorea, a hydromedusa. University of Washington Faculty. Accessed 06/08/2013.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2013).
