black sea red data book - Department of Biology

east and the Adriatic Sea), and the Atlantic coast of Africa. After the opening of the
Volga-Don Canal in 1952, the species also penetrated the Caspian Sea.
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. The polyps occur in the upper
sublitoral. They attach to rocks, wood, and different types of floating objects.
Jellyfish inhabit the near-surface layers.
Biology. Lives at temperatures of 15-25°C and at a salinity of 0.5-3.5 ppt. Feeds on
zooplankton. The life cycle includes a succession of polypoid and jellyfish stages. In
the Black Sea, budding of polyps occurs in August - September, forming weakly
branched laminated colonies. The polyp has a thin long stalk. The jellyfish becomes
mature 30-40 days after separating from the polyp.
Population trends. Abundance unknown. Probably rare.
Threats. Increasing salinity, pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Included in Red Data Book of Ukraine.
Conservation measures proposed. Create conditions for normal reproduction,
including the prevention of pollution of brackish coastal areas.
References
Borcea, I., 1930-1931. Nouvelles contributions a l'étude de la faune benthonique
dans la mer Noire, près du littoral roumaine. Ann. Sci. Univ. Jassy. 16: 655-750.
Naumov, D. V., 1960. Gidroidy і gydromeduzy morskikh, solonovatovodnykh і
presnovodnykh basseinov SSSR (Hydroids and hydromedusas of marine, brackish
and freshwaters reservoirs of the USSR). Moscow-Leningrad: Nauka: 626 pp.
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