How do Moon jellyfish breed?

Moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) have a fascinating and complex breeding process that involves both sexual and asexual reproduction:

1. Sexual Reproduction:

* Release of Gametes: Male jellyfish release sperm into the water, which is then drawn into the mouth of female jellyfish.

* Fertilization: The sperm fertilizes the eggs inside the female.

* Planula Larvae: The fertilized eggs develop into tiny, free-swimming larvae called planulae.

* Polyp Stage: Planulae settle on a solid surface and transform into a polyp stage. Polyps are small, stalk-like organisms with a mouth and tentacles.

* Strobila Stage: The polyp undergoes asexual reproduction, budding off small, disk-shaped structures called ephyrae.

2. Asexual Reproduction:

* Ephyrae: The ephyrae detach from the polyp and grow into small, immature jellyfish called ephyrae.

* Medusa Stage: The ephyrae mature into the familiar, bell-shaped adult jellyfish stage, known as medusa.

The Lifecycle in Summary:

1. Adult jellyfish (medusa) release sperm and eggs.

2. Fertilization produces planulae larvae.

3. Planulae settle and develop into polyps.

4. Polyps bud off ephyrae through asexual reproduction.

5. Ephyrae mature into adult jellyfish (medusa).

Key points:

* The polyp stage represents the asexual phase, where a single polyp can produce many ephyrae.

* The medusa stage represents the sexual phase, where jellyfish release gametes for fertilization.

* This complex lifecycle allows for rapid reproduction and dispersal of moon jellyfish.

It's important to note that some species of jellyfish can reproduce only sexually, while others can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Moon jellyfish are a fascinating example of how a species can adapt to its environment through complex reproductive strategies.