Phylum Cnidari Environmental Analysis

1515 Words4 Pages

Jellyfish, of the Phylum Cnidaria, are an interesting and well developed species. Although they are invertebrates, they are similar to human beings in that they contain an intricate central nervous system that enables them a common perception of their environment. It is understood that several species of jellyfish utilize their nerve net in order to respond to common features of their aquatic habitat, such as: depth of water, light, sound and temperature. They use utilize information from these environmental features to survive in their environment and communicate with each other. Light is a quintessential feature that affects jellyfish perception to environmental stimuli to communicate within their environment. As mentioned before, jellyfish …show more content…

It is suggested that this is because of lower salinity levels at the surface of water. Jellyfish were detected in two different location sites and used video recordings to observe distribution of Mnemiopsis leidyi jellyfish. Mobility of the species in the water, migration at different depths in the water, and time of day in relation to the salinity and temperature of the water indicate the significant regression between mean depth and time of day suggests that their vertical position might depend on light level (Haraldsson et al. 2014). In conclusion, the jellyfish perceived the effects of the times of the day in correlation to conditions in the water. Water conditions perceived by the jellyfish control the population, occurrence, location, and distribution of jellyfish in the water. Jellyfish can also perceive the winds of their atmosphere. This is because an uneven light distribution from the sun combatting with weather changes in the environment as well can cause temperature differences in certain regions of the aquatic environment. Baumann and Schernewski (2012) display and discuss a rare increase of both the moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita, and lion's mane jellyfish, Cyanea capillata. A correlation between a certain wind direction, shore- ward currents and large numbers of gelatinous zooplankton described a link between hydromedusa blooms …show more content…

Jellyfish are an oviparous species, meaning that are able to lay eggs rather than having to carry their young. Because they lay podocysts in the sediment, a jellyfish’s’ environmental perception is key to the lineage in species of jellyfish due to survival through natural selection. The jellyfish species central nervous system ability for common perception of their environment is the essence of its existence. If the jellyfish does not correctly utilize its perceptions of its habitat its offspring may not survive. It may seem trivial; however, perception of different spectrums and magnitudes of light, temperature, salinity of the water, and wind allow the jellyfish to select ideal environments for their offspring. Podocysts are the cause of jellyfish bloom or non-bloom years the situations of the locations in which the podocysts are laid determine the success of an offspring of jellyfish. A study showed a significant difference in two environment conditions; very rare in well-aerated seawater at constant temperature and a setting with exposure to abnormally high temperatures low salinities, and burial in organic-rich mud. The extremities of higher temperatures and lower salinities were the ultimately the cause of massive blooms of the Nemopilema nomurai jellyfish (Kawahara et al.

More about Phylum Cnidari Environmental Analysis

Open Document