This paper will look at the Medusozoa commonly known as the jellyfish. The jellyfish comes from the Cnidaria phyla. The jelly fish dates back over 500 million years and can be found in various different oceanic environments. And there are a few varieties that inhabit fresh water as well. Despite its name the jelly fish is not even a fish because it has no vertebrae. The medusozoa are broken up into four classes scyphomedusae ("true" jellyfish), stauromedusae (stalked jellyfish), cubomedusae (box jellyfish) and hydrozoa. The jellyfish body can take on various forms from the more commonly known bell or umbrella shape or they can be flat and disc like based on the species. This paper will focus on the scyphomedusae or “true jellyfish”. We will look at the like cycle, habitat, resources it needs, and ethical issues concerning the animal.
First let’s look at mating and the life cycle of the jellyfish. There are separate sexes, male and female, that are not easily distinguished by sigh. Their reproductive organs can be found in the stomach lining. Reproduction begins when the male releases sperm through its mouth into the surrounding water. These sperm swim to the female where they enter her central oral cavity to reach the eggs. Once fertilized, the zygotes emerge onto the oral arms to develop for a time, becoming larvae which settle on the bottom of the ocean attaching itself to the surface. The resulting polyp begins to bud asexually, releasing free-swimming medusae which go on to develop into adults. Adult jellyfish range in size from twelve millimeters to more than two meters in diameter. The largest is the Cyanea arctica that can have tenticles over 40 meters long. Jellyfish lifespans typically ranges from a few h...
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...art. A small company in Israel believes it can help. Through research they have found that jellyfish were made up of a material that could "absorb high volume of liquids and hold them without disintegrating or dissolving. They want to apply this research to the production of diapers, paper towels, and even tampons. Other small environmental groups are even urging people to start looking at jellyfish as a viable food source.
In closing we have looked at the history, habitat, lifecycle and ethical issues of the jellyfish. And though the jellyfish has been around for centuries now more than ever its presence is being notice. Despite its simple anatomy and short life span the jellyfish has begun to take over the waters around the world. It is no more the small menace that may sting the occasional beach goer but an ever growing threat to the marine ecosystem.
...to 300 individuals, the newborn seahorses are independent of parental care and the male is free to fertilize and accept more eggs(Lourie 11). The offspring bearing roles displayed by Hippocampus spp. is an extreme shift in relation to many other species of kingdom Animalia, of which the bearing of young is predominantly carried out by females. According to Foster, growth rates throughout the life cycle and the duration of the life cycle of seahorses in the wild varies between species and cannot be determined due to insufficient research data(foster 22). Once sexual maturity is reached, often determined by the presence of a brood pouch in males, adults are able to reproduce. During reproduction, the overwhelming majority of Hippocampus species display monogamous behaviors, usually mating with the same partner for the duration of the mating cycle(lourie 10-11).
Many different squid exist, and along with different species comes different looks, however, all squid are based on a basic body plan. The average squid species range from as tiny as 2 cm to as threatening as two metres in length. However, Teuthids range from the Antarctic up-to-14-metres Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) to the tiny less-than-one-inch Grass Squid (Pickfordiateuthis pulchella). The elongated body, also called the mantle, is slightly swollen near the middle and tapers to a blunt point. At this point is the head, at which point the tentacles begin. Also at the head is the mouth of the squid, which has a sharp, bird-like beak used like teeth. All species of squid possess long, cylindrical bodies and an internal, blade-shaped gladius. A gladius is made of chitin, like human fingernails, and lends s...
...er what manipulating this environment may due to the jellyfish. Unfortunately, in many cases we are improving conditions for them and as a result degrading our own situation.
When someone says the word octopus, an image of an eight legged invertebrate comes to mind. The body structure of a mature octopus is very interesting. Octopuses are extremely intelligent. They have excellent memory can use tools, and are great problem solvers. Only birds and mammals are known to be smarter. Each one of their tentacles, which are used for prying open clam shells, has two rows of suckers that can give them a pretty good grip. An octopus also tastes with its tentacles. An octopus’s third right arm, also called hectocotyli, is also its penis which a male octopus will use to mate at one or two years of age. The only part of an octopus that cannot move or squeeze through small spaces is its beak where it consumes food. This is used for biting and also breaking things apart. Did you know that octopi have three hearts? This is because these sea creatures have extra legs and three hearts are necessary for better bl...
After watching several documentaries on how poorly killer whales are treated in captivity, it drew me into researching more information on the treatment of Killer whales that are kept in captivity. I found several scientific journals, and articles on wild life facts of killer whales and I found published books on the treatment of killer whales in captivity. The information I found includes both wild killer whales and killer whales kept in captivity. With the information I found, I plan to prove the shortened lifespan and health problems killer whales get while living in captivity are not normal. In fact the information you learned about killer whales from aquariums and commercial parks are false. This paper will argue why killer whales should not be held captive in commercial parks. This Paper will include information on the killer whale’s diet, the killer whale’s communication, and the killer whale’s physical traits.
Seaworld is a giant marine life theme park. The greatest attraction to these many theme park would be those killer whales. In fact, these killer whales are the face of the park. As gigant as these mammals are, seaworld is keeping them in some pretty tight quarters. Mr. Jett and Mr.Ventre says “Wild killer whales can swim a hundred miles daily as they socialize, forage, communicate, and breed. In stark contrast, with little horizontal or vertical space in their enclosures, captive orcas swim only limited distances, with most spending many hours surface resting.” The animals don't have the freedom they need. Also when taking the whales out of their natural habit the whales tend to be depressed and not as heath in that situation. They need their freedom in the big ocean blue. Bring them into the small living units, breeding whales in captivity all for the entertainment of humans. At young ages the calves are taken away from their mothers on to a new seaworld park. Mothers of the calves have even been seen denying their offspring.
The Portuguese Man of War, also known as Physalia physalis, is often found in warm waters of the tropics, subtropics and Gulf Stream and is armed with thick nematocysts that can reach up to 165 feet. The Portuguese Man of War has a translucent blue, pink gas filled body that reaches lengths up to 12 inches long. The poisonous creature got its name, because of its appearance to looking like the sail of a Portuguese battleship. The sting of a Portuguese Man of War if very painful, but not deadly. The pain is to be described as putting hot charcoal on your flesh. The pain of the nematocysts can last for hours and can cause welts and red marks to cover the areas the tentacles had touched. There are also symptoms of nausea and difficulty breathing. This particular jellyfish is not considered a “true” jellyfish. In fact, The Portuguese Man of War consists of modified feeding polyps and a reproductive medusa called a float. Since the jellyfish is not a fast moving carnivore the diet of a Portuguese Man of War consists of eating small fish or other creatures it can get ahold of. The nematocysts will paralyze the prey which then will be consumed by the jellyfish. Because jellyfish are venomous most marine animals cannot eat them but there are a few exceptions. For example, sea turtles love to eat the Portuguese Man of War. Other jellyfish are preyed upon by spadefish, sunfish, and loggerheaded
Coral reefs are systems of large, underwater structures that are composed of the mineralized bodies of corals. These corals are a class of marine invertebrates known as Anthozoans, and belong to the phylum Cnidaria, and are thus related to sea anemone and jellyfish. Each individual coral animal is only a few millimeters in diameter, and a few centimeters in length. Due to their sessile nature, and their ability to reproduce asexually, they are able to construct, over many generations, massive colonies of genetically identical individuals. Additionally, they secrete a hard exoskeleton of calcium carbonate to support and protect their bodies, and it is from this process that the colony constructs what is known as a single coral “head.”
Currently, live whale performances have become well liked for tourists to visit. When they are there, they only see what they want to see and do not care or want to know all about the complications the whales go through just to make people smile. The documentary “Blackfish” exposes the truth about the whales, their habits, and why they act the manner they do when in captivity. The inhumane treatment of whales in captivity causes negative effects on the animals which, in turn, affects the humans who care for them.
Aquariums are a great place to learn about the ocean and its habitats. From the bottom of the food webs to the preservations of the environments within, aquariums give people of all ages a hands-on experience and first-look at the mysteries of the ocean. Both the coral reef and the deep sea, though not well known among the general public, is presented in a way that sparks interest, showing the biodiversity in the waters below.
This article discusses how important the organisms symbiotic with coral reefs are, as well as how important coral reefs are to our environment. Also explained is how natural and non natural things things like hurricanes and overfishing affects them. A study is quoted about how water acidity also plays a role in the bleaching of corals. Lastly, restoration and conservation efforts are discussed and how we could possibly help our oceans.
Clincher: Unless we change the way we view our oceans, jellyfish might be the only seafood on the menu in the near future.
Piatigorsky, Z., Kozmik. 2004.Cubozoan jellyfish: an Evo/Devo model for eyes and other sensory systems. Int J Dev Biol 48: 719–729
Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.
In conclusion, I would like to say that before writing this paper, I had no idea how important coral reefs were to the earth. I have learned a lot and I think that if more people were informed about the positive capabilities of them, humans wouldn't be so careless about them.