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...
Published in: | Journal of Plankton Research |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Oxford University Press
1999
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://plankt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/21/12/2431 https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/21.12.2431 |
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. |
---|