Athena Mansfield James R. Hampton Biology 1050 4-15-2014 I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII.

Moon Jellyfish Aurelia aurita Aurita Ulmaridae Semaeostomeae Scyphozoa Cnidaria

The moon jellyfish or aurita are beautiful majestic translucent creatures. These jellyfish are best known for the four horseshoe shaped gonads easily spotted through their bell. They can be found throughout most of our world`s oceans. A. aurita does prefer consistent current and temperate seas. Even when swimming they flow with the current. Moon jellyfish are considered both prey and predator. They feed on a diverse group of organisms known as plankton. These mesmerizing creatures have stinging cells called nematocysts. Their tentacles are laced with these stinging cells to stun and capture prey. Then the prey is brought up to the gastrovascular cavity by a ciliated action. The jellyfish are prey too sea turtles ocean sun fish and also birds. Moon Jellyfish are very important to our ecosystems they provide food for larger animals while controlling the population of plankton. Also Jellyfish help our oceans by filtering out waste. Every organism is an intricate part of the system. Without the support of one animal it is possible the system could fail. The Jelly fish have affected humans directly. We live in a fear driven society everything I read in the media seems to be based on fear. For example people are afraid of the jellyfish

populations taking over the ocean. Certain beaches have seen an increase of Jellyfish stings and are afraid they are taking over the ocean. A positive affect the jelly fish has on humans is seeing their amazing beings in aquariums as well as keeping them as pets. Thanks to a special tank designed for jellyfish called the Kreisel Tank makes this possible. Another effect it has in our culture is a movie called Seven Pounds where a man kills himself to give someone he loves his actual heart. This always comes to my mind when I think about Jellyfish. Also my experiences walking along the beach with my bear feet in the ocean and seeing the jellyfish flow right passed my feet. Even I fear the stinging cells. If Jellyfish were removed from the ocean the predators would go hungry. The waste would clog our oceans much more than today. Even more tragic we would miss their magnificent bells and mesmerizing tentacles. According to the findings of molecular phylogenetics the most likely ancestors of the Cinardian`s are the Calcarea. Based on these theories of DNA testing they believe that sponges are related to the Jellyfish.