Role of winds and tides in timing of beach strandings, occurrence, and significance of swarms of the jellyfish Crambione mastigophora Mass 1903 (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae: Catostylidae) in north-western Australia

Abstract

Very large swarms of the red jellyfish Crambione mastigophora in north-western Australia disrupt swimming on tourist beaches causing economic impacts. In October 2012, jellyfish stranding on Cable Beach (density 2.20 ± 0.43 ind. m -2 ) was estimated at 52.8 million individuals or 14,172 t wet weight along 15 km of beach. Reports of strandings after this period and up to 250 km south of this location indicate even larger swarm biomass. Strandings of jellyfish were significantly associated with a 2-day lag in conditions of small tidal ranges (\5 m). More than 90% of strandings occurred 2 days after winds were blowing onshore, but with the small number of days when satellite wind data were available during the study period, this result was not statistically significant. Dedicated instrument measurements of meteorological parameters, rather than the indirect measures used in this study (satellite winds and modelled currents) may improve the predictability of such events and help authorities to plan for and manage swimming activity on beaches. We also show a high incidence of predation by C. mastigophora on bivalve larvae which may have a significant impact on the reproductive output of pearl oyster broodstock in the region.

Sightings, strandings and Irukandji Syndrome caused by envenomations of the large, rarely observed jellyfish; <i>Keesingia gigas</i> Gershwin, 2014 (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeida: Alatinidae) in north-western Australia

“…In 2016, the predominantly north-north-westerly, onshore winds and waves (towards the shores of the eastern coast of North West Cape) over the largely unbroken five day period may explain how K. gigas were transported close to the shore and then brought on shore. This accumulation of jellyfish in near shore areas, caused by a combination of wind and tides is a common feature with beach strandings or increased incidence of envenomation of beach users (Gershwin et al 2014, Keesing et al 2016b. In 2017, the wind patterns were similar but the K. gigas were predominantly observed on the western coast of North West Cape.…”

“…Very active coastal food webs have subsequently been proposed to support the annual aggregations of filter-feeding whale sharks (Taylor & Pearce 1999). While aggregations or arrivals of whale sharks, manta rays and the scyphozoans Crambione mastigophora Maas 1903 (Keesing et al 2016b) and Aurelia sp. occur reliably each year, the presence of K. gigas and Malo bella Gershwin 2014 (see Table 2) has been much less frequent and more unpredictable.…”

Wind Pattern Change Along a Period of Coastal Occurrence Variation of a Stinging Medusa on a SW Atlantic Beach

“…For instance, the occurrence of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (Scyphozoa) into the Neuse River Estuary has been reported as a function of winddriven circulation (Kaneshiro & Kimmel, 2015). In Cable Beach (north-western Australia), on the other hand, stranding events of the scyphozoan Crambione mastigophora occurred when winds blow onshore (Keesing et al, 2015).…”

“…Variation in medusae abundance can be a function of wind-driven circulation being wind dynamics more influential to jellyfish encounters with humans than any other abiotic variable (Decker et al, 2007;Kaneshiro-Pineiro & Kimmel, 2015). This is particularly important in tourist coastal areas where environmental information for the prediction of stinging species is employed to prevent harmful encounters (Kaneshiro-Pineiro & Kimmel, 2015;Keesing et al, 2015). Temperature is another factor that influences blooming potential in medusae (Arai, 1992;Purcell, 2005;Schiariti et al, 2014), so it should be considered to understand variations in the dynamic of their populations.…”

Sustainability analysis of tomato jellyfish (Crambione mastigophora) fisheries resources management in Saleh Bay Waters, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia

“…Tomato jellyfish species are found in the waters of Malay Archipelago, Java and Truk Island (Omori and Nakano 2001), Indonesia (Asrial et al 2015a), and northwestern Australia (Keesing et al 2016). The Indian Ocean and Saleh Bay's coastal waters are the habitat for tomato jellyfish (Asrial 2015a).…”