The puzzling occurrence of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) along the Brazilian coast: a result of several invasion events?

Stampar, Sérgio N.; Gamero‐Mora, Edgar; Maronna, Maximiliano M.; Fritscher, Juliano M.; Oliveira, Bruno S. P.; Sampaio, Cláudio L. S.; Morandini, André C.

doi:10.3897/zoologia.37.e50834

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…In the case of Cassiopea andromeda, although we detected its eDNA in the Florida Keys some workers have suggested that C. xamachana and C. andromeda may be the same species (Holland et al, 2004). However, in our analysis, consensus sequences of putative C. andromeda and C. xamachana diverge by roughly 4%, raising the hypothesis that a separate species is present, which is corroborated by recent findings (Stampar et al, 2020). The fact that resident Cassiopea species, C. xamachana and C. frondosa, can be readily distinguished based on both morphology and genetics is evidence for two reproductively isolated species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The fact that resident Cassiopea species, C. xamachana and C. frondosa, can be readily distinguished based on both morphology and genetics is evidence for two reproductively isolated species. C. andromeda was originally described from the Red Sea, from where it has recently spread throughout the world to warm, coastal waters, possibly introduced at the microscopic life stage in ballast water or as polyps on ship hulls (Holland et al, 2004;Stampar et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fieldable Environmental DNA Sequencing to Assess Jellyfish Biodiversity in Nearshore Waters of the Florida Keys, United States

et al. 2021

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Recent advances in molecular sequencing technology and the increased availability of fieldable laboratory equipment have provided researchers with the opportunity to conduct real-time or near real-time gene-based biodiversity assessments of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we developed a workflow and portable kit for fieldable environmental DNA sequencing (FeDS) and tested its efficacy by characterizing the breadth of jellyfish (Medusozoa) taxa in the coastal waters of the Upper and Lower Florida Keys. Environmental DNA was isolated from seawater collection events at eight sites and samples were subjected to medusozoan 16S rRNA gene and metazoan mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene profiling via metabarcoding onsite. In total, FeDS yielded 175,326 processed sequence reads providing evidence for 53 medusozoan taxa. Our most salient findings revealed eDNA from: (1) two venomous box jellyfish (Cubozoa) species, including taxa whose stings cause the notorious Irukandji envenomation syndrome; (2) two species of potentially introduced stalked jellyfish (Staurozoa); and (3) a likely cryptic species of upside-down jellyfish (Scyphozoa). Taken together, the results of this study highlight the merits of FeDS in conducting biodiversity surveys of endemic and introduced species, and as a potential tool for assessing envenomation and/or conservation-related threats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fieldable Environmental DNA Sequencing to Assess Jellyfish Biodiversity in Nearshore Waters of the Florida Keys, United States

et al. 2021

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“…andromeda (black) and C . xamachana (white) distributions from sequences published in relevant scyphozoan or Cassiopea specific phylogenies from 2004–2022 [ 3 , 6 , 13 , 17 , 29 ]. Locations with both recorded as black-and-white.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…xamachana and C . andromeda populations, but these were found in separate sampling efforts [ 17 , 29 , 32 ]. Locations with Cassiopea , especially those with a paucity of sequences, may present the sort of assemblages already identified here in the Florida Keys, Hawai’i, Brazil, the Philippines and Palau, and may require multiple rounds of sampling to parse [ 3 , 6 , 13 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demystifying Cassiopea species identity in the Florida Keys: Cassiopea xamachana and Cassiopea andromeda coexist in shallow waters

Muffett

Miglietta

2023

PLoS ONE

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The phylogeny of the Upside-Down Jellyfish (Cassiopea spp.) has been revised multiple times in its history. This is especially true in the Florida Keys, where much of the Cassiopea stock for research and aquarium trade in the United States are collected. In August 2021, we collected 55 Cassiopea medusae at eight shallow water sites throughout the Florida Keys and sequenced COI, 16S, and 28S genes. Mitochondrial genes demonstrate that the shallow waters in Florida are inhabited by both Cassiopea xamachana and a non-native Cassiopea andromeda lineage, identified in multispecies assemblages at least thrice. While C. xamachana were present at all sites, the C. andromeda-mitotype individuals were present at only a minority of sites. While we cannot confirm hybridization or lack thereof between the C. xamanchana and C. andromeda lineages, these previously unknown multispecies assemblages are a likely root cause for the confusing and disputed COI-based species identities of Cassiopea in the Florida Keys. This also serves as a cautionary note to all Cassiopea researchers to barcode their individuals regardless of the location in which they were collected.

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“…This species is an epibenthic scyphozoan with a maximum umbrella diameter of about 30 cm commonly found in tropical and subtropical shallow coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, estuaries, and sandy mudflats. This species has a metagenetic cycle with the following phases: planula, benthic polyp, ephyra, and adult medusa [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snapshot of the Distribution and Biology of Alien Jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda (Forsskål, 1775) in a Mediterranean Touristic Harbour

Cillari

Allegra²,

Berto

et al. 2022

Biology

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Harbors are hotspots for the introduction of alien species, and, usually, investigations on their host populations help fill the knowledge gap in their pathways of invasion and in their impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems. In 2014, the upside-down alien jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda invaded a Mediterranean touristic harbor (“Cala”), and its abundance has since increased over time. In the present study, the distribution and trophic behavior of C. andromeda in Cala were investigated for the years 2017–2018 through visual sampling, and GIS-based statistical and stable isotope analyses. Since Cala is a hard-to-reach area (with many anchor cables and boats), Megabenthos Underwater Video was used to count the number and estimate the size of jellyfishes. The variations in size throughout the study period suggest that the population of C. andromeda is quite established in Cala at depths lower than 7.5 m. The ranges of the environmental parameters recorded (temperature, salinity, and transparency) were consistent with the ideal conditions for maintaining a Cassiopea population, but they did not seem to influence aggregation. Additionally, the carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures studied highlight the mixotrophic behavior of this species. These preliminary results confirm the capacity of C. andromeda to live and reproduce in heavily anthropized areas.

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The puzzling occurrence of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) along the Brazilian coast: a result of several invasion events?

Cited by 14 publications

References 33 publications

Fieldable Environmental DNA Sequencing to Assess Jellyfish Biodiversity in Nearshore Waters of the Florida Keys, United States

Fieldable Environmental DNA Sequencing to Assess Jellyfish Biodiversity in Nearshore Waters of the Florida Keys, United States

Demystifying Cassiopea species identity in the Florida Keys: Cassiopea xamachana and Cassiopea andromeda coexist in shallow waters

Snapshot of the Distribution and Biology of Alien Jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda (Forsskål, 1775) in a Mediterranean Touristic Harbour

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