The discovery of an Antarctic epipelagic medusan in the Mediterranean

A single specimen of the Antarctic anthomedusan Russellia mirabilis Kramp 1957 has recently been collected in the Alborán Sea. This is the first record for an Antarctic epipelagic organism in the Mediterranean Sea. Transport in the ballast water of a cargo ship seems the most plausible mechanism for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Plankton Research
Main Authors: Pagès, Francesc, Pugh, Phil R., Siegel, Volker
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 1999
Subjects:
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Online Access:http://plankt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/21/12/2431
https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/21.12.2431
Description
Summary:A single specimen of the Antarctic anthomedusan Russellia mirabilis Kramp 1957 has recently been collected in the Alborán Sea. This is the first record for an Antarctic epipelagic organism in the Mediterranean Sea. Transport in the ballast water of a cargo ship seems the most plausible mechanism for explaining this rare occurrence. However, an alternative hypothesis is explored involving a possibly complex medusan life cycle together with the role of Antarctic (Intermediate and Bottom) water as dispersal mechanisms.

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