Sterile polystyrene culture dishes induce transformation of polyps into medusae in Aurelia aurita (Scyphozoa, Cnidaria)

Asexual reproduction of Nausithoe aurea (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa, Coronatae) induced by sterile polystyrene dishes

“…The two other experimental groups, B and C, did not present any strobilating polyps. The strobilation results observed by Herrmann et al (2003) in the scyphozoan Aurelia aurita (Linnaeus, 1758) were greater than ours. However, our results showed the same kind of influence from the sterile polystyrene dishes in the Coronatae species Nausithoe aurea.…”

“…The cause is probably the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by substances that were used to turn the polystyrene dishes sterile, as pointed out by Herrmann et al (2003) and Berking et al (2005).…”

“…However, some other factors have not been considered, for example the influence of some objects during the experiment (e.g. forceps, pointers or dishes), as pointed out by the results of Herrmann et al (2003). The influence of the culturing dishes in the strobilation of the coronate scyphozoan Nausithoe aurea is the focus of this communication.…”

“…It is a rather common scyphopolyp species found in southeastern Brazilian coast and there is detailed information on the life cycle, embryonic development and behavior in Silveira & Morandini, 1997;Morandini & Silveira, 2001;Silveira et al, 2003;Holst & Jarms, 2006;Stampar & Silveira, 2006. In the life cycle of N. aurea the strobilation may produce either ephyrae (which grows to mature medusae) or planuloids (Silveira & Morandini, 1997).…”

“…Using the results and the protocol established by Herrmann et al (2003) we created a protocol to verify the possible strobilation induction by sterile polystyrene dishes in the species Nausithoe aurea. The dishes used in this work were from Corning®, series (430165), sizing 35 mm x 10 mm.…”