Figure 5
From: The elusive life cycle of scyphozoan jellyfish – metagenesis revisited
Additions to the present MLC model (Fig. 1), pointing out the multi-modal character of the scyphozoan life cycle.
Medusae in surface waters in late spring are large and sexually mature (1) whereas animals found later in the season tend to be smaller in size. This observation suggests a constant supply of new medusae due continuous strobilation through summer (not shown). In late summer, medium sized medusae sink to the seabed (2), spend the winter near the deep benthos (3)/(4) and ascent as large and sexually mature animals to surface waters in late spring (1). Polyps can produce a mobile planuloid through external/internal gemmation, by-passing the medusa-stage (5) and planula-larvae can directly develop into ephyrae (6), by-passing the medusa stage. The presented life-cycle-traits have been reported for different scyphozoan species worldwide, not all are necessarily applicable to all species. Grey shadings represent medusae movements. DDE direct development of ephyrae; I/EG internal/external gemmation. Numbers 1–6 follow the numbering in Table 1.
