Abstract
Rhopilema nomadica is an Indopacific scyphomedusan, which has migrated into the eastern Mediterranean in recent years. Large aggregations of the medusae were recorded in Haifa Bay, Israel, reaching 5.5×105 medusae per square nautical mile during summer 1989. The life cycle of R. nomadica from planula to young medusa is described. Fertilization is external and planulae are formed within a few hours at 20°C. After settlement, polyps were fed with Artemia sp. nauplii and developed into polydisc strobilae within 45 d. The strobilation process was completed within 7 d, and the liberated ephyrae developed into young medusae within 2 mo. Asexual reproduction occurred mainly via podocyst formation. The population explosion of R. nomadica could be attributed to its high reproductive potential.
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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
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Lotan, A., Ben-Hillel, R. & Loya, Y. Life cycle of Rhopilema nomadica: a new immigrant scyphomedusan in the Mediterranean. Mar. Biol. 112, 237–242 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702467
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702467