Recent studies have correlated fluctuations in jellyfish abundances with climatic changes, leading to speculation that the warming trend in the North Sea will affect the strobilation activity of Scyphozoa. The present study provides long-term data (10–22 months) on temperature effects on the species Aurelia aurita, Cyanea capillata, Cyanea lamarckii and Chrysaora hysoscella. Strobilation at current winter temperature (5°C) in the German Bight was compared to strobilation at warmer winter temperatures. Simulated winter temperature of 10°C had several positive effects on strobilation, as compared to 5°C: 1. A longer strobilation period or higher ephyra production per polyp in A. aurita, C. lamarckii and Ch. hysoscella; 2. Higher percentages of polyps strobilating in A. aurita and Ch. hysoscella; 3. More ephyrae per strobila in C. capillata and C. lamarckii; 4. A shorter strobilation duration in C. capillata and C. lamarckii. Cold winter temperatures of 5°C promoted strobilation in C. capillata, but inhibited strobilation in A. aurita and reduced ephyra production in C. lamarckii and Ch. hysoscella. These results suggest that climate warming will benefit A. aurita, but not cold-water C. capillata. The distributions of C. lamarckii and Ch. hysoscella probably could expand to the north. |
