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Jellyfish distribution and abundance in relation to the physical habitat of Jellyfish Lake, Palau

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2018

Megan A. Cimino ,
Sharon Patris ,
Gerda Ucharm ,
Lori J. Bell  and
Eric Terrill
Megan A. Cimino*
Affiliation:
University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive #0214, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Sharon Patris
Affiliation:
Coral Reef Research Foundation, PO Box 1765, Koror, PW, Palau 96940
Gerda Ucharm
Affiliation:
Coral Reef Research Foundation, PO Box 1765, Koror, PW, Palau 96940
Lori J. Bell
Affiliation:
Coral Reef Research Foundation, PO Box 1765, Koror, PW, Palau 96940
Eric Terrill
Affiliation:
University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive #0214, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Email: mcimino@ucsd.edu
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Abstract:

Animals often select for habitats that increase their chance of survival by balancing the need to acquire food, reproduce and avoid predation. Perennial blooms of golden jellyfish (Mastigias papua etpisoni) are present in Jellyfish Lake, Palau, a popular tourist destination. Based on the species’ economic importance and unusual behavioural complexity, increased understanding of jellyfish habitat selection is necessary. We used a novel approach, a REMUS autonomous underwater vehicle, to quantify jellyfish distribution, abundance and habitat, and compared these findings to traditional methods. Midday acoustic surveys showed jellyfish distribution was patchy and the population resided mainly on the eastern side of the lake, as it is known that jellyfish migrate eastward towards the sun. Highest vertical densities of jellyfish were at 6–7 m, potentially to mitigate UV damage or photoinhibition of their photosymbionts, suggesting a coupling exists between their vertical distribution and water properties. Abundance estimates of jellyfish were ~2.75 and ~7.1 million (~2 million excluding bell diameters <1 cm) from acoustic and net samples, suggesting the methodology employed underestimated the population's smaller size fraction and non-synoptic surveys could impact estimates due to unresolved patchiness. Our approach could investigate population dynamics, behaviour or habitat associations on fine scales.

Keywords

acousticsautonomous underwater vehiclejellyfishJellyfish Lakemarine lakeMastigiasPalauREMUS

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 17 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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