Temporal and spatial variation in recruitment and growth of medusae of the jellyfish, Catostylus mosaicus (Scyphozoa : Rhizostomeae)

Abstract

The timing of recruitment and growth of medusae of the commercially harvested jellyfish, Catostylus mosaicus (Scyphozoa), was examined over a period of 8 years at Botany Bay and 2.5 years at Lake Illawarra in New South Wales, Australia. Recruitment events occurred sporadically during December and between March and July at Botany Bay and between February and July at Lake Illawarra. Recruitment did not occur during late winter or spring at either location, although small numbers of recruit medusae could potentially occur during any time of year. Despite anecdotal observations that recruitment sometimes occurred after periods of heavy rain, we found no correlation between the timing of recruitment and rainfall in Botany Bay over a period of 8 years. Cohort analyses indicated growth of small medusae was very rapid (max. 4.81 mm day–1), with growth rates decreasing as medusae grew larger. Medusae appeared to grow faster at Botany Bay than Lake Illawarra. A conservative estimate indicated medusae of C. mosaicus can live for up to 13 months.