Ecology of moon jellyfish Aurelia Sp. in southern Tasmania in relation to Atlantic salmon farming ...

• Main Author: Willcox, ST
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Huon; Soi; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23241686.v1; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Ecology_of_moon_jellyfish_Aurelia_Sp_in_southern_Tasmania_in_relation_to_Atlantic_salmon_farming/23241686/1

The pattern of occurrence of medusae blooms in south east Tasmania was linked to both local and global scale environmental conditions. On average, summer water temperature was over one degree warmer, local autumn rainfall was less than half, winter salinity was 0.7%o lower, and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) values in winter, spring, and summer were 10 - 12 points higher (and positive) in years where blooms occurred compared to those where they did not. The amount of local rainfall in autumn and the mean SOI value in winter were identified as the most useful environmental variables for predicting which summers will have medusae blooms. Blooming Aurelia sp. medusae were studied in the Huon Estuary from early December 2002 to late January 2003. Medusae grew exponentially and reached a maximum mean diameter of over 150mm in two months. Maximum mean growth rates of 7.3% body weight day-1 were measured before the pattern of growth broke and all medusae disappeared at the end of January. The total number of ...