SPONGES and JELLYS
I Spongy Landscapes
by PETER V. CHETIRKIN
The marine environment is an incredible conglomeration of
dynamic living systems all seemingly interrelated and organized into a
beautiful and sometimes unusual harmony. Some of its inhabitants are destined
to be bottom dwellers. Seemingly motionless, covering large areas of bottom
substrate, and creating some of the most colorful and unusual landscape
artistry imaginable.
One such inhabitant, sometimes referred to as the “pore
bearer’S or “filter of the sea,” is the sponge. These invertebrates can be
found over large areas of bottom substrate including corals, both living and
dead, rocks, ledges. shells, gorgonians (soft corals), and other hospitable
surfaces. Of the three classes comprising the sponge phylum (porifera),
Demospongiae is the largest both in species numbers and in range of distribution.
This class contains most of the colorful sponges encountered on coral reefs
and back reef communities off the Florida Keys and throughout the
Although some sponges are radially symmetrical the vast
majority, are irregular, displaying sometimes massive, erect, encrusting, or
branching patterns. These unusual forms are in part due to environmental
conditions such as substratum currents, sediments, and wave actions. Changes
in these conditions can cause a species to produce a variety of appearances
which makes identification difficult. The relationship between the animal ‘s
surface area and water volume was an important factor in increasing the size of
sponges as they evolved. In the more primitive sponges, referred to
structurally as asconoid, the flow rate of water is very
slow
because the internal cavity (spongocoel) contains too much water to be expelled
rapidly. Therefore, as the sponge increases in size water movement is intensified,
and since the surface area does not increase, the sponges stay small. However,
during their evolution some sponges began to fold their body walls thereby
reducing the internal cavity and at the same time increasing the surface area
which promoted greater circulation. This caused the sponges to dramatically
increase in size. These sponges, referred to structurally as leuconoid, cover
large areas of bottom and create remarkable forms and structures.
The
surface of sponges is an assembly of minute pores (incurrent waterways) with
sometimes towering openings called oscules (excurrent waterways) covered by an
epidermal layer within which calcareous or silicious spicules and organic
fibers are distributed. These add to the framework and to the surface texture
which can sometimes be stoney to the touch. Drabness is often unjustly associated
with sponges. Yellow, orange, red, purple, and green sponges are frequently
encountered. These colors are due largely to pigment granules associated with
certain cells called “wandering amebocytes,” located beneath the epidermis in
the mesenchyme layer, a gelatinous protein matrix. Besides the pigment
granules, sponges sometimes exhibit color patterns due to relationships with
other organisms. In some sponges, green coloration is due to a microscopic
algae called zooxanthellae. This symbiotic photosynthetic algae is brought in
through the incurrent pores and then transferred to the amebocytes. The surface
of the sponge is a playground for a variety of organisms including sea
anemones, marine worms, starfish, and zoanthids. One such frequently observed
association is that of an anemone-like organism called zoanthids. These occur
as colonial or solitary, symbiotic or free living. One zoanthid in par-
ticular,
Parazoanthus parasiticus. although
occurring on a wide variety of sponges, is often encountered on Cliona delitrix, an encrusting or
burrowing demosponge which cover sometimes up to 4O inches of substrate. Cliona are bright red to reddish orange
with large prominent oscules scattered over the surface. Close examination
reveals minute zoanthids uniformly dotting the spongy landscape like flowers
in a meadow. They occur as single polyps or in groups of no more than two or
three. The column of the polyp is white because of the calcareous sand
encrustations resulting from the coral chipped away and dissolved by the
sponge.
Marine worms are also frequently seen on sponges. While
burrowed in the sponge some of these worms extend colorful feather-like gills
called radioles.
This ubiquitous and ancient animal whose existence can be
traced back two hundred million years, was unable to give rise to new forms and
is destined to exist as it is. Its nature and unique associations, adaptive
mechanisms and a wide range of habitats allows it to react to subtle changes
within its environment resulting in an incredible display of interesting forms
and amazingly colorful landscapes.
II Common Jellyfish
of the Middle
by DOROTHY
JEFFRESS and FRANK STEIMLE
Vol. 19, No. 2
Every summer the public makes its annual migration
to the shore, and people find that they have to share the waters with its
natives, some of which they deem undesirable. When people come into contact
with jellyfish, they express a variety of questions and concerns, such as: Why
are they there? Are they increasing because of pollution? And, what does one do
if stung? We will answer some of these questions and provide a brief review of
the several common species occurring in the waters from Cape Cod to
Jellyfish is the name commonly given to any
organism that is pelagic (lives in the water column), contains mostly water
(93%), and has a jelly-like consistency. However, there are several different
types of organisms included in this vernacular classification: Christmas
light-like siphonophores, true medusa types, and “sea walnuts” or ctenophores.
Most shore visitors see only the latter two groups.
Most true medusa-like jellyfish (scyphozoa) are
semitransparent and glassy. They often have brilliantly colored tentacles,
internal digestive canals, or egg sacs, and are often photographed for diving
magazines. Each tentacle of a medusa jellyfish has thousands of tiny stinging
cells, called nematocysts. These jellyfish have unusual life histories that
include several different forms, some pelagic and some attached to the sea
bottom. Also, every other generation is asexual. An anemone-like or polyp form
buds new disc-shaped individuals that develop into sexual medusa forms which
in turn produce eggs that develop into larvae (planula). These settle to the
bottom to become the attached anemone form, again.
Nearly all adult medusae are free swimming and
occur in most seas, although some species do live on the bottom in tropical
areas, e.g., the “upside-down” jellyfish of the Caribbean mangrove lagoons.
Because their swimming ability is relatively weak, medusa are greatly influenced
by currents, tides, and the wind, and are often common where currents converge.
They can use their pulsating bells to rise in the water column or to sink to
search for more favorable conditions.
Most medusa are active carnivores and if present in
great numbers can seriously effect the survival of the eggs, larva, or young of
fish and other sea-life. Small planktonic crustacea and other jellyfish are
common food, as well. The stinging cells on the tentacles are for capturing
food not for making life miserable for bathers.
Medusa jellyfish can be useful to man. Some species
are harvested and dried for consumption in the Orient. Also, many sea turtles
feed heavily, if not entirely, on jellyfish. Many sea turtles die by eating
clear plastic bags they mistake for jellyfish. Several fishes (spiny dogfish,
chum salmon, Atlantic mackerel, and cods) also eat them, despite their low food
value.
There are three common medusa type jellyfish in the
Middle Atlantic area: the sea nettle, the moon jelly, and the large lion’s
mane.
Chrysaora
quinquecirrha, the sea nettle, or
summer jellyfish, is the dominant and conspicuous jellyfish of the bays and
estuaries where it tolerates a wide range of
salinities. This jellyfish is typically bell-shaped and pale white, sometimes
ribbed with reddish markings that resemble numerous wheels pulsating along the
surface; long thin tentacles edge the bell. The species is familiar to both
fishermen and swimmers because of its abundance in the summer and its sting.
The sea nettle spends most of its life cycle as a
sessile polyp attached to the underside of oyster shells and other hard surfaces
in coastal areas where they will not be smothered by silt. Small sea slugs or
nudibranchs find them an irresistible snack. The mini-medusa bud off the polyps
and are abundant spring through fall. They are not without enemies. The harvestfish,
Peprilus alepidotus, a relative of
the butterfish, is commonly found swimming in and out of the deadly tentacles
with apparent impunity and feed
heavily on them, as well. Larger fish can destroy a
jellyfish in minutes.
The moon jelly, Aurelia
aurelia, is one of the most common and widely distributed medusa. It is
translucent white or tawny and several inches in diameter. When found washed
upon the beach, they look like the bottoms of old glass milk bottles, with a
clover-like pattern often evident. They also make their appearance in the
spring.
The adult moon jelly does not have large tentacles
or significant stinging cells, so it does not sting us. It collects planktonic
food through rows of fine, hair-like cilia that sweep food to the mouth at the
center of the underside. It will catch and eat other small jellyfish and other
small planktonic critters. Moon jellies can catch larval fish and shellfish and
have been considered by some to be involved in the decline of herring in the
Baltic. When they are abundant, they can also affect fisheries by clogging
nets.
Relatives of the lion’s mane, Cyanea capillata, can grow to over 10 feet in diameter and have
tentacles over 100 feet long. The lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest medusa
commonly found in the northeast, being about a foot or more in diameter. It is
relatively thick bodied, thus another name for it — sea blubber, and colored
from brown to red-purple with a large amount of curtainous material (digestive
or reproductive organs) beneath the bell. This and the abundant tentacles make
up the “mane.”
It is also found in northern waters and in
abundance along the shore in the early summer. Tides and currents are responsible
for great windrows of them being washed up on the beach in some years. This
species can produce a stronger sting than the other two common species, although
not nearly as strong as some tropical species.
It feeds on larger planktonic forms, including
juvenile fish. Juvenile cod, haddock, whiting, and some mackerel are commonly
found associated under the medusa bell and between the oral arms, somehow
avoiding the ring of deadly tentacles.
The comb jellies are not disc shaped, but usually
globular or somewhat compressed and represent a different phyla, Ctenophora.
They are not large and one of their names, sea walnuts (sea kiwi fruit for some
of you), is an appropriate estimator of size and shape, but not color. They
have a variety of translucent tints, and the eight rows of ever beating cilia
(the combs) along their sides make them glisten or iridescent. Many are luminescent.
Comb jellies have no stinging cells although some
species have a pair of sticky tentacles. Thus they are harmless to man, they
also do not go through a sessile bottom phase, and are poor swimmers which make
them subjects of the whim of tides and currents. Rows of
cilia sweep planktonic organisms into the comb
jelly’s mouth which is located at one end where the rows come together.
The most common species of comb jellies in the
northeast are the sea walnut and the sea-gooseberry. The sea walnut appears in
the late spring and early summer and flourishes throughout the warmer months so
it is the species that most summer visitors to the shore see in the surf as
little blobs of jelly in the waves. The other two common species prefer cooler
temperatures.
The sea walnut, Mnemiopsis
leidyi, often occurs in large swarms famous for their luminescence. They
are not as innocuous as they may appear since they feed on mollusc larvae that
could include valuable shellfish. When they occur in estuaries, they can be
controlled by sea nettles, the jellyfish swimmers could do without but that
oystermen and clammers recognize as a potential friend. If abundant and not
controlled they also can have a major affect on estuarine planktonic ecosystems
by reducing the zooplankton that feeds on and reduces overabundant microscopic
algae blooms.
The Beroe comb jelly, Beroe ovata, has a conical, compressed body with a large mouth at
the bottom. Generally pink in the north and paler farther south, it does not
occur commonly above Cape Cod and is most abundant near Delaware and Chesapeake
Bays. This comb jelly swims in circles searching for prey. It feeds on other
comb jellies that it sucks into its mouth and swallows whole.
The sea gooseberry, Pleurobranchia pileus, is truly berry-like in shape and almost
transparent, although there can be tints of color on some parts of the body. It
has two long, branched tentacles that it can retract into a pouch between the
rows of cilia. This is a cold water species and is common south of Cape Cod
only when winds and storms sweep them south.
They are passive drifters and catch their food
(smaller planktonic organisms) on their tentacles. They are reported to be
voracious, and swarms can sweep the waters clean of smaller plankton.
Now
that you are familiar with “the cast of characters,” we’ll answer some common
questions about them.
Why do jellyfish appear to swarm near the beach
during the summer? All varieties of jellyfish are weak swimmers and at the mercy
of the tides, winds, and currents. They are frequently found where currents
converge. The surf zone is not a healthy place for their fragile bodies so it
is only by chance that they end up there or on the beach. Either offshore or
onshore breezes can bring them in, depending on whether they are at the surface
or near the bottom of the coastal water layer.
How dangerous are these jellyfish and what should
one do if stung? The medusa type jellyfish are the only ones to be concerned
about because of the stinging cells on their tentacles. The sea nettle and the
lion’s mane are usually the only commonly occurring species that can be a problem to bathers and fishermen. South of
Cape Hatteras there are other species, including the Portuguese man-of-war and
sea wasp, that are more potent. The stinging cells of the moon jellies are
seldom felt by humans. The jellyfish stings when the microscopic nematocysts on
the tentacles are touched causing them to evert a long, thin, tube-like dart
at whatever has triggered them. This dart contains a numbing poison intended
mostly to subdue its prey, but can also be for the jellyfish’s protection.
When these stinging tubes penetrate the skin they cause a mild to severe local
itching or burning reaction. Even tentacles broken off in the surf and lying
partially dried and nearly invisible on the beach can still be “loaded” and
give a sting. The soles of our feet are usually thick enough for protection
against these stings, but children playing in the sand containing tentacle
fragments may be irritated.
This irritation is seldom more than a minor,
temporary rash, but certain especially sensitive people should be more
cautious. For these people, the rash can be accompanied by other symptoms, such
as fever and chills, headaches, intense pain, and nausea or diarrhea that can
persist for several days. Repeated exposure to jellyfish stings have lead to
allergic sensitization for some, possibly resulting in anaphylactic shock, a
severe condition requiring immediate medical attention. If you are concerned
about stinging jellyfish in an area, ask a lifeguard and make sure he/she
knows the importance of a correct answer.
But for most, minor jellyfish irritations are like
mosquito bites, the small price we pay for being near the water in the summer.
There are a number of “home” remedies to reduce the reaction and the
irritation. These include sprinkling the area (after washing with salt water
and carefully lifting off any adhering tentacles) with ammonia, vinegar, lemon
juice, baking soda, or meat tenderizer. This is not to make you more digestible
to the jellyfish, despite what some say.
The meat tenderizer contains enzymes that are
reported to neutralize the protein toxin. It may be that just altering the pH
of the affected area provides some relief. There are commercial preparations,
such as cortisone or other analgesics available in pharmacies. Medical
attention should be sought if the irritation is severe or persists for more
than an hour or so.
Is pollution causing an increase in the abundance
of jellyfish? Some scientists think that this might be partially true because
nutrient or other pollutants can alter the coastal food webs so that the
smaller plankton species become more abundant. These are good food for certain
jellyfish and not for other larger plankton feeders. This idea is not held by
all and needs to be examined further. There have been reports of great rafts of
comb jellies occurring off New Jersey and Cape Cod in the first two decades of
this century, where pollution would not be expected to be extensive. However,
jellyfish are reported to be adversely affected by some chemical pollutants
such as toxic metals.
Can jellyfish cause other problems? Sometimes when
they are very abundant in estuaries, they can drastically reduce the
populations of small crustaceans that feed on the seasonal phytoplankton
blooms. So instead of the phytoplankton being eaten and integrated into the
food web, it sinks to the estuary bottom and dies. The accumulation of dead
phytoplankton (and the jellyfish themselves after they have eaten everything
and starve) can contribute to the development of local anoxia (no or little
oxygen left in the water) conditions that can kill some organisms and chase
away others. Also, as previously noted, abundant populations of jellyfish can
eat a lot of larvae of species that we would like to see survive, like
harvestable fish and shellfish.
The jellyfish are another remarkable group with
which we share the planet and, although not always friendly, deserve to be
appreciated for their beauty and how they make their living.
III A
Killer Down Under
(taken from National Geo. 8/94 by William Haner)
Jetting through water,
a box jellyfish looks as harmless as cotton candy. But this scourge of the beach-also called a
marine stinger or sea wasp-is earth's most venomous creature. Contact with its tentacles can bring
agonizing death within four minutes.
Shimmering in the glow of flood lamps
along the pier, two large ghostly shapes undulate just beneath the surface of
the dark sea. Webs of long, almost
invisibly thin tentacles swept out behind their box shaped translucent
bodies. It was Chironex fleckeri, the
infamous box jellyfish found in the near-shore waters of Australia and
southeastern Asia.
Difficult to see, these cubic phantoms
have long cast a dreadful shadow over the sundrenched beauty of the north
Australian coast. Known also as sea
wasps or marine stingers, box jellies have killed at least 65 people in the
past century. They are the most venomous
animals on earth since no other animal's venom can kill a human in 4 minutes or
less. Australia's most dangerous snake,
the taipan, has enough venom to kill 30 adults, but its bite is not very
painful, and it can take several hours for an untreated victim to die. A large box jellyfish, however, has enough
venom to kill 60 adults and the pain of its sting is instant and
unbearable. Breathing may quickly become
distressed as venom is absorbed into the circulatory and lymphatic systems: in
some cases, the heart's pumping slows or stops almost immediately.
Trying to study these animals was a task
and watching these two large Chironex
under the pier, never touching the oyster encrusted pilings that would
easily tear their delicate tissue, was a chance to catch these to study their
life styles. Using a long-handed net to
scoop them up into the waiting buckets, a breeze caught a single tentacle still
dangling outside one of the buckets. The
collector was stung in the inside of his arm and felt at first he had been
branded by red-hot steel. A fiery welt,
braided with the characteristic bands of the box jelly's tentacle,
appeared. He was lucky as only about an
inch of tentacle had struck on his arm.
It takes ten feet or more to deliver a fatal dose of box jelly
venom.
In order to study the life stages of
Chironex, it is necessary to know the life stages of other jellys. Other jellyfish begin their life as mobile
little balls of cells called planulae, which settle on rocks or other hard
surfaces and transform into polyps--tiny organisms with a crown of
tentacles. But in 1977, when the above
work was done, no one had ever seen either Chironex planulae or polyps. It was noticed that the stress of capturing
them caused them to release their sperm and eggs into the buckets. Using these sperm and eggs released into the
bucket, the possibility of getting fertilized eggs was studied to see if the
planulae larva and polyps may form.
The biologists soon had tanks, jars, and
plastic dishes brimming with planulae but the organisms soon died after
transforming into microscopic polyps. It
was known the planulae need a solid surface to attach but they rejected all
rocks, mollusk shells, coral and mangrove roots offered to them but found the
polyps were thriving at the bottom of the tank.
Now that the juvenile forms of the box
jelly were identified, the next step was to find them in the wild. This would prove laborious because of their
small size and because no one knew where breeding occurred.
Since Chironex medusa appear only in the
Australia summer, some biologists thought they migrated south from New
Guinea. Others suspected hey might spawn
between the mainland and the Great Barrier Reef, some 40 miles offshore.
After months of collecting million of
cubic meters of seawater, they found the youngest and smallest medussae were closest to the
mainland, indicating their spawning grounds were nearby. Later, Chironex medussae were found three or
four miles into such estuaries and streams as Alligator Creek. In 1980 they started collecting mollusk
shells and pieces of mangrove roots to examine for polyps under the
microscope. After looking for thousands
of rocks from 14 rivers for six years, sometimes taking as long as four hours
to examine a four inch rock, they finally found a rock with polyps that looked
just like Chironex polyps.
Over the next 12 days, the length of time
it takes for box jelly metamorphosis, they eagerly watched as each step from
polyp to medusa matched what they expected.
Finally, when the medusa emerged, they were unquestionably tiny box
jellies.
Thanks to their work, we can now describe
the entire life cycle of the box jelly.
Adults aggregate in river mouths and estuaries in late summer to spawn
and then die. The resulting planulae
settle onto the bottom, where in the fall they transform into polyps and
colonize the undersize of stones, creeping along to find a suitable spot to
anchor. During this time, new polyps may
sprout from existing polyps. In the
spring, the polyps become little medussae, migrating seaward before monsoon
rains set in. At sea they feed on prawns
and fish, but their favorite food is a small shrimp that schools close to
shore--along the same sandy beaches that Australians find so attractive in the
summer.
And therein lies the problem. Chironex
do not intentionally sting humans, of course, but simply react when
their tentacles are brushed. Jellyfish
tentacles have specialized stinger capsules called nematocysts, each of which has a mechanical trigger. To fire, however, the nematocysts must be
stimulated chemically. That stimulation
comes from chemicals found on the surface of fish, shellfish, and
unfortunately, humans.
The slowly pulsing translucent bells are
hard enough to see as the medusa as the medusa troll for prey in northern
Australia's murky coastal waters: their tentacles are even harder to see. Fifteen feet long and only a quarter of an
inch thick, they stream behind the bell like invisible fishing lines. In fact, not until 1965, was the species
Chironex fleckeri actually described and
identified as the creature that inflicted such agony. Stories abounded of swimmers running from the
water screaming, tearing at lesions on their skin but never having seen their
assailant.
Fortunately for tourism, box jellies don't
live on the Great Barrier Reef, where about a million visitors swim throughout
the year. Nor do box jellies haunt the
beaches of Australia's Gold or Sunshine Coasts near Brisbane. But summer beachgoers have had to adjust
their behavior to the presence of the lethal jellyfish along the shores north
of the Tropic of Capricorn, which passes near the city of Rockhampton in the
northeastern state of Queensland.
When people do bathe along vulnerable
beaches, they should either swim in safely netted areas or wear protective
clothing. Entrants in surfing
competitions have been known to wear 2 pairs of panty hose-one covering the
legs, and the other upside down, with the wearer's arms thrust through the
pantyhose legs and head poking through a hole in the seat.
How can the ultra thin pantyhose fabric
protect against the venom? The stinger
capsules are too short to puncture skin covered by the hose. That's fortunate because although each
nematocyst injects only a microdrop of venom, a single tentacle contains
millions of the deadly capsules.
This is how the box jellies are can be so
difficult to treat. Snakes and spiders
usually only bite only once in a single spot, but the box jelly venom enters a
victim over a large area. There is an
anitvenom that was developed 24 years ago by Australia's Commonwealth Serum
Laboratories, who injected sheep with non-fatal doses of venom. The sheep produced antibodies that can be
used to manufacture antivenom. Medical
personnel in coastal regions of the Northern Territory and northern Queensland
carry the antivenom.
When injected intravenously, normal
breathing often begins immediately, and pain relief usually occurs within
minutes. Later scarring is frequently
reduced.
Attempts to keep cube jellies in captivity
usually fail because they just won't feed in captivity. A new kind of aquarium called a
planktonkreisel (plankton carousel) which rotates water in a way to prevent
jellyfish from becoming trapped in corners and the drains. As soon as the jellies were put into these
aquariums, they began to swim in a circular pattern with their tentacles
stretched out behind them--something never seen in still water tanks.
When live shrimp were put into the tank,
one of the Chironex's tentacles soon touched a spiny banana prawn, which died
instantly. Entangled in the tentacles,
the shrimp was reeled in close to the box jelly's pedalium, a feeding appendage that lifted the
shrimp up to the medusa's reaching mouth.
At last an environment to allow scientists to observe living, feeding
box jellies had been developed.
Watching the box jellies eat the banana
prawns, it was quickly appreciated why Chironex needs to be so lethal. Prey such as banana prawns are covered with
sharp spines which if eaten alive, one flip of their powerful tail would rip
the delicate tissue of the jelly to pieces.
It is far better to kill quickly.
One observation of the Chironex in the tank was that when room lights were
bright and the observer had dark clothes on, moving toward the tank would swim
away from that side of the tank. Such
behavior in an animal as simple as a jellyfish was unlikely though box
jellyfish do have structures that greatly resemble the eyes of
vertebrates. Could their nervous system
be complex enough to process visual information?
Sealing off the aquarium so that no light
penetrated from the outside, various targets were presented to the jelly. Because the target was black to contrast with
the white wall of the tank, each time, the jellyfish turned away. These experiments demonstrated that box
jellies can see very well, though no one knows how they do it.
After these experiments, the scientists went back to that pier in the beginning of the story. They observed the jellies pulsing toward the pier when three large green turtles appeared. The fastest of the three turtles consumed the jelly in two quick bites.
This creature that can kill in an instant
was being casually dined on, tentacles and all, by an enemy obviously immune to
its defences. How did the sea turtles do
it? Perhaps there is some protection afforded
by the lining of their digestive system--which may also be what allows them to
eat glass sponges with ease.
So even this most venomous creature has
its own vulnerabilities.
IV SEA LICE or Seabathers Eruption
Adult Thimble Jellyfish (Linuche unguiculata)
CLINICAL ARTICLES SEABATHER'S ERUPTION OR
"SEA LICE":
New findings and clinical implications Mary T. RusselI, RN, MSN, CCRN, CEN, and Robert S. Tomchik, MD, MPH, Boca Raton, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
History
For the past 11 years, during the months of March
through August, residents and tourists along 250 miles of Florida's southern
Atlantic coastline have complained of an annoying pruritic rash, primarily
within areas covered by bathing suits. Although this problem has existed since
the early 1900s at least, it has not been formally recognized and understood
until recently. The first study (a retrospective case review of ED cases seen
during 1992) and a sample population survey were conducted at Boca Raton
Community Hospital. The outbreaks appear to have intensified in the last 4
years, as reflected in the number of cases reported as well as the severity of
response in individual cases. Because most affected people treat themselves, it
is difficult to determine the total annual number of cases. However, a
conservative estimate of 10,000 cases in 1992 can be made. A sample population
survey of 1433 persons who went swimming within the apparent geographic center
of the outbreaks indicated that one of every four persons that went swimming
had the dermatitis. Because the Sunshine
State has a significant tourist population, people who have the rash return to
their respective states or countries, seeking follow-up care from their local
health care facilities. This has prompted calls to Florida's Public Health
Offices and emergency departments, requesting information as to the origins of
the rash and recommendations for treatment. Many persons expressed confusion
and fear that they had contracted a communicable disease, such as venereal
disease, chickenpox, or measles.
Periodic
outbreaks have existed before this decade, and it is possible that this form of
dermatitis has been around for centuries. Fishermen have long been acquainted
with it, affirming reports in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Caribbean
islands. Names such as "sea poisoning," "sea critters," and
"ocean itch" have been used as descriptions of this seasonal
affliction. A Bahamian old wives' tale specifically warns against ocean
swimming between Mother's Day and Father's Day yearly. A local resident from Miami, Florida,
described bathing on the beach in the spring of 1903 as the "year we were
all poisoned... with some kind of rash which set up an intense itching. It was
not so bad for us as we could stay home and doctor ourselves with lotions but
the poor men having to work in the fields or hot packing houses were the ones
who really suffered." In 1949, Dr.
Wiley Sams gave a detailed description of his 12 years of observations and
research of "an acute form of dermatitis which occurs within a short time
after bathing in the ocean." He recorded the distribution and histology of
the lesions, their clinical presentation, and his theory that seabather's
eruption was caused by "some living, microscopic organism, in the nature
of nematocysts from some form of coelenterate which is free floating."He also
cautioned that seabather's eruption should not be confused with "swimmer's
itch," a dermatitis involving exposed areas of the body caused by Schistosome cercaride, a free swimming
parasitic flatworm found in FRESH water.
The term "sea lice" apparently originated during the 1950s and
was used by local U.S. residents in describing the condition. This popular term
persisted, despite efforts by scientists to discourage use of such an
inappropriate designation. Sea lice are actually small parasites that affect
fish. Beach goers sought their own
remedies for the seasonal itchy rash. Folk remedies included the use of garlic,
athletes foot spray, lemon, hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol,
spray starch, Epsom salts, and meat tenderizer. Unorthodox attempts to obtain
relief included fingernail polish, undiluted bleach, ammonia, gasoline and
turpentine. These are especially notable because they were used on extremely
sensitive areas of people's bodies. The prevailing term, "sea lice,"
also encouraged the inappropriate use of head lice medication. When marine biologists at the University of
Miami analyzed water samples collected during the periods when complaints of
bathers increased, large numbers of cnidarian larvae were noted. Cnidarians are
a group of marine animals that contain stinging structures known as
nematocysts, and include jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, hydroids, and
Portuguese Man o'War. There are more than 9000 species of this group of marine
animals; however, it appears that the larval form of Linuche unquiculata, also known as a "thimble jellyfish,"
is responsible for the outbreaks in South Florida and the Caribbean. This
probable causative organism was identified after cultures were successfully
grown to maturity from plankton tows collected during 1992 outbreak
periods. The suspected organism, barely
visible except under excellent lighting, appears like a speck of finely ground
pepper. Its size is approximately that of a pinhead floating on the surface
layers of the water. The bathing suits worn by swimmers apparently trap
variable numbers of larvae, with the fabric acting in a similar fashion to a
net.
The many
nematocysts surrounding each larva can be triggered to fire by mechanical
pressure, such as in the friction areas of a bathing suit or bathing cap, or in
body creases. A bather's individual activities may also increase the amount of
firing, such as contact with a surfboard, lying on the beach, or sitting on a
car seat in the wet bathing suit during the trip home. The surface area of a bathing suit may
increase the area over which stings can occur. Female bathers wearing one-piece
suits and children and adults wearing T-shirts in the water can increase the
risk of a more severe reaction. It is not unusual to see evidence of 200 or
more stings under a person's bathing suit.
Changes in osmotic pressure may also activate the nematocysis. This
could occur from evaporation as the bathing suit dries or from the bather's
rinsing with fresh water while wearing the suit. The nematocysts have been
noted to have an affinity for hair as well as fiber, which could explain why
people have lesions on their necks, from hair dangling in the ocean water and
then contacting the skin. The dermatitis
usually becomes noticeable between 4 and 24 hours after exposure, although some
persons do complain of a "prickling" sensation while still in the
water. Persons who have had previous exposure to seabather's eruption, such as
lifeguards, tend to have immediate stinging sensations on reexposure. Unfortunately,
the only way that beach goers could be warned of the presence of this marine
organism in the water was when lifeguards had the dermatitis during their early
morning swims. Beach messages specifically warning about "sea lice"
have been used since 1989 at access points to public beaches in Palm Beach
County. However, no information is available for visitors entering many private
beaches owned by hotels and motels.
Outbreaks of seabather's eruption appear to be caused by shifts in South
Florida's currents, with the highest incidence of cases in such areas as Palm
Beach County and Northern Broward County, where the Gulf Stream passes closest
to shore. Other areas of coastline are affected by shifts in currents or by
strong easterly winds bringing the larvae closer to shore. During initial
outbreaks in early spring, adult jellyfish may be seen in the water. It is the
larvae, however, not the adult organisms, that are responsible for seabather's
eruption. Once the adults die after spawning, the larvae continue to cause the
outbreaks, with no mature jellyfish visible as a warning. Lesions associated with seabather's eruption
have ranged from a barely discernible macular rash in those with no history of
previous exposure to the largely typical maculopapular and occasionally
vesicular eruption noted by most. Those with a history of exposure to the
organisms have noted urticarial lesions at the onset of reexposure. The
dermatitis usually resolves within 1 week, although reactivation of initial
lesions has been reported at intervals lasting several weeks or longer. Probably because of the intense itching, many
persons report difficultyt in sleeping. Other symptoms include nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakcills, muscle spasms, arthralgias, and a
sense of malaise. It is unknown whether some of these symptoms reflect the
ingestion of infected seawater or are manifestations of a systemic immune
response. A retrospective case review of records of persons treated in an
emergency department at the geographic center for seabathers eruption noted
fever (temperatures greater than 101 degrees F) in 8 of the 57 cases, All 8
cases occurred among children 11years of age or younger. The highest recorded
temperature was 103.4 degrees F.
TREATMENT: Treatment of this dermatitis
currently includes the administration of an antihistamine, such
diphenhydramine, for the itching and the application of an over-the-counter
0.5% hydrocortisone cream to the rash areas. Persons suffering from
exteneruptions, with or without urticaria, or with recurrences of symptoms may
benefit from the administration of epinepherine as well as oral or
intramuscular steroids. A prescription for 1.0% corticosteroid cream can also
be given. Comfort measures include
bathing in a colloidal oatmeal preparation and applying calamine lotion. The
latter may be good for children, who benefit from its visual placebo effect.
Diphenhydramine and calamine (Caladryl) lotion should not be applied when an
oral antihistamine is being used to avoid toxic effects, especially in
children. Caution is also in order, to make sure that steroid creams, in
combination with oral steroids, are not overused. This may occur when large
body surfaces are involved. As noted,
children with seabather's eruption tend to exhibit febrile reactions more
frequently than adults, probably because of their immune response. Parents
should be observant and treat the symptoms. An additional recommendation for
children is to clip their fingernails short, to avoid scratching of lesions. Good personal hygiene, especially in the
perineal area, will help patients of any age to avoid secondary bacterial
infections. Should a secondary infection occur, as evidenced by purulent
lesions that are not resolving, follow-up care with a dermatologist is recommended. Any rash needs a thorough evaluation to rule
out possible communicable causes. The key to the diagnosis of seabather's
eruption is a history of ocean exposure followed by the development of a
dermatitis within 24 hours of exposure. Multiple persons within one household
are typically affected. Persons with the rash of seabather's eruption are not
considered contagious.
PREVENTION:
Outbreaks of seabather's eruption occur intermittently between March and
August, but they appear to peak during early April through early July. There
have been many days when no infestations have occurred. Beach goers need to
listen to local beach reports and observe daily posted beach messages in
affected areas. The following recommendations may also help in minimizing the
number of stings:
1. Each beach goer needs to assess his or her
individual risk of an immune response. Persons with a history of a severe
reaction should confine their beach activities to land, or use pool facilities
instead, during outbreaks.
2. Swimmers
should avoid wearing T-shirts while in the ocean. Use of a topical sunscreen
and limiting sun exposure protects against solar injury. There is some evidence
that use of a topical sunscreen or suntan lotion may actually protect skin from
penetration by the nematocysts.
3. Women should consider two-piece instead of
one-piece bathing suits, to reduce the surface area of swimwear that could trap
larvae. It is possible that smooth, tight weave bathing suits may trap fewer
larvae than suits with an open-weave fabric.
4. After ocean exposure, swimmers need to change
out of their bathing suits as soon as possible after exiting from the water.
Most lesions have occurred from contact with contaminated swimwear. Removal of
possibly contaminated swimwear, followed by a shower to rinse off loose larvae,
should limit the number of stings. If showers are in a public area, it is
suggested that people bring a second suit to the beach; after removing the
first, possibly contaminated suit, they can don the second suit and then
shower. Showering with fresh water while still wearing a contaminated bathing
suit could cause discharge of nematocysts trapped in the fabric of the
suit.
5. Bathing
suits should be thoroughly washed with detergent and heat-dried after use. Some
have experienced a recurrence of symptoms when wearing suits that had only been
air-dried. Air-dried nematocysts still have the potential to fire. A person who
has had a severe reaction may be wise to discard the infested suit. Now that research of seabather's eruption has
begun, information to protect the public will be distributed as it becomes
available.
REFERENCES:
1. Sea lice survey. Boca Raton, Florida: Boca
Raton Community Hospital. 1992.
2. Lauther
OC. The lonesome road. Miami: Center Printinq, 1963:91-2.
3. Sams WM. Seabather's eruption. Arch Dermatol
1949:60:227-37.
4. Black
NA, Szmant AM. Larval thimble jellyfish (Linuche unqui culata) as a possible
cause of seabather's eruption. Presented at 1992 Symposium on Flonda Keys
Regional Ecosystem. Miami, Nov 18, 1992.
5. Thorinqton GU, Hessinqer DA. Control of
discharqe: factors affecting discharqe of crudes. In: Hessinqer DA. Lenhoff HM.
eds. The biology of nematocysts. San Dieqo: Academic Press. 1955:232-53.
6.
Retrospective case review/medical records of SBE cases from 4/92-7/92.
Boca Raton, Florida: Boca Raton Community Hospital, 1992.
7. Heeger T, Moller H, Mrowietz U. Protection of
human skin against jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) stinqs. Marine Biol 1992:113:669-78.
© Mary T.
Russell, 1995 mrussell@fau.edu
V Rub-a-Dub-dub
Wash the car. Wash the windows. Wash the
floor. What are you doing to that poor
sponge anyway? Poor sponge? That washing aid you’re using, if your lucky
enough to have a true sponge, is all thats left of a marine animal.
Sponges
are strange creatures and not at all like most of the animals with which we are
familiar. They can be almost any color,
from white to gray to any shade of red or yellow to purple and black. They have no head, body, arms, legs or any
other obvious structures that we generally associate with animals. Some sponges live singly. Others live in
crowded colonies that form crust like layers over rock surfaces. Individual sponges can be as small as a centimeter
or as large as two meters across. Our
washing sponge certainly doesn’t look
alive. In fact, it isn’t. The “sponge” that most of us think about when
we hear the word is really only the skeleton of a sponge animal. The skeleton of a living sponge would be
surrounded with cells. the body plan of
a sponge is simple. Sponges are
considered to have the lowest multicellular organization of all animals. This distinction elevates sponges to just one
step above the one celled protozoans.
When examining a living sponge, a close look
reveals that the sponge is covered with many small holes or incurrent pores .
The pores explain the name of the phylum to which sponges belong, Porifera , which means “pore
bearing”. We also see a larger opening
called the osculum (Latin for “little mouth”). If we were to place a drop of food coloring
near the sponge, we would be able to follow the dye as it moved into the
incurrent pores and out the osculum.
The
colored water is moved through the sponge by the movement of whip-like
structures (flagella) found on the cells
that line the inside of the sponge’s body.
These cells are shaped somewhat like a goblet and are called collar
cells or choanocytes. The
current caused by these collar cells moves not only water but also plankton and
other small bits of organic matter the sponges use for food. The current also helps supply oxygen to the
living cells. Through water movement,
the sponge draws its food and oxygen to itself.
Moving the environment through the sponge keeps the sponge from having
to move through the environment. The
adult sponge, therefore, can and does spend its life permanently attached by
its base to a rock or shell or some similar substrate. The sponge is sessile, or relatively
non-moving. (Q1 & 2).
A
simple sponge has a hollow body, and the
body wall is formed of two layers of cells separated by a layer of jelly-like
material. The outer layer or epidermis
protects the sponge. The inner layer
contains the collar cells. The jelly layer
is a mixture of loose cells, spicules and/or spongin. The spicules are noncellular skeletal
structures that help support the sponge’s body.
Spongin is a tough, fibrous protein material that also helps to support
the sponge. (Q3)
Spicules are secreted by living cells.
They are small rods composed of either lime (calcium carbonate) or glass
(silica). The spicules come in a variety
of shapes and sizes. Each species of
sponge has its own special combination of spicules. Like a fingerprint, these combinations may be
used to identify the species of sponge.
Biologists have divided spicules into four basic shapes:
1. single axis or straight
spicule (monoaxon)
2. three pronged or multiple of
three spicule (triaxon)
3. four pronged spicule
(tetraxon)
4. many pronged spicule
(polyaxon) (Q4)
Spicules are secreted in many sponges by small
amoeba-like cells called amoebocytes .
These amoebocytes also distribute digested food and oxygen to other
cells as they wander through the jelly-like layer. Often sponges produce two types of
spicules. The large spicules are called
megascleres and the smaller spicules of a different design are called microscleres.
The Sting
Jellyfish, sea anemones, corals and microscopic hydroids are very
different animals, yet all grouped together in the phylum Cnidaria . What do
these animals share that cause biologists to group them within a single
phylum?
The
Cnidarians are tentacle-bearing, radially symmetrical animals with a
sac-like body composed of two basic cell layers. Radial symmetry is a body design in which
parts radiate from a center as spokes radiate from the hub of a wheel. The saclike body provides an internal space
for digestion (the gastrovascular cavity ). The hollow space opens to the outside at one
end to form a mouth. The presence of a
mouth and digestive cavity permits the use of a much greater range of food
sizes than is possible in the sponges.
Cnidarians represent an important advance in cellular organization. The protozoa and sponges operate on the
cellular level, Cnidarians are at the
tissue level of organization. The
different kinds of cells present are organized into groups in which all cells
have similar structural and functional characteristics. A tissue is a group of similar cells organized to perform a
particular function. Cnidarians have
specialized epidermal, nervous, digestive and muscular tissues.
Two
body forms are found among the members of the Cnidarians:
a.
Medussa- an umbrella shaped jellyfish form with trailing tentacles
b. Polyp-a
cylindrical body, attached at the base, with tentacles at the upper margin
encircling the mouth. (Q5)
The two body forms of the Cnidarians are grouped
into three classes:
Class Hydrozoa - the hydroids
Class Scyphozoa - true jellyfish
Class Anthozoa - the sea anemones and corals
(Q6)
The
class Hydrozoa contains a large number of common Cnidarians. Because of their small size and excellent
camouflage, most people are unaware of the members of this group. Most of the life cycle of the hydrozoans is
spent in the polyp stage. Most marine
hydrozoans are colonial , a great
many individuals are associated on the same tree-like stalk.
Members
of the class Scyphozoa spend most of their lives in the free-floating medusa
form. The jellyfish is found in seas
from the Arctic to the tropics. These
fragile looking umbrellas are able to withstand long sea journeys and much wave
battering. The term medusa has its
origin in ancient Greece. The Gorgon
Medusa of Greek mythology was a woman-monster figure that, instead of hair, has
a mass of waving snakes atop her head.
The resemblance of the Medusa and
the half-round jellyfish, with tentacles streaming snake-like from its edges is
very evident.
All of
the members of the class Anthozoa spend their lives as attached polyps. Most anthozoans found i n Northwest waters
are much larger than are the Hydrozoa polyps.
If the polyp is large enough to be easily seen with the naked eye, it is
probably an anthozoan. This class includes the coral animals which
are found in all seas. Anthozoans have
adopted many different forms.
Cnidarians show many different life cycles. The life cycle of a jellyfish can be used to
show the general features of the cnidarian life cycle.
Jellyfish go through three stages of
development: larval, polyp, and medusa
(mature jellyfish). In most jellyfish,
sexes are separate. The gonads, or
primary sex glands, whether male or female, develop in the lining of the
gastrovascular cavity. When spawning
occurs, the eggs or sperm are released to the outside through the
gastrovascular cavity. The eggs
generally settle on the oral arms and are fertilized there. Young embryos begin their development on
these long arms. They then detach and
become microscopic larvae covered with hair-like cilia. The rapid beating of these cilia propel the
larva through the water.
After
leaving the protection of the adult, the larva tries to find a home where it
can attach and begin the second stage of development (polyp). Rocks, shells, cans or bottles in shallow
protected water are all suitable materials, but jellyfish larvae seem to prefer oyster and clam shells.
Once the larva has found a home, it begins the
polyp stage. First, (during the
scyphistoma period), the body divides into segments: Each segment then develops until it is pinched
off as a ephyra larva. This
pinching off is called strobilation.
Ephyre larvae grow to adults and are called
medusae. At this third and final stage
of development, they are ready to produce eggs and sperm and begin the life
cycle again. A jellyfish will normally
live three to six months: rarely does its life span exceed a year.
Cnidarians possess special structures, the nematocysts or stinging
cells, which aid them in obtaining food.
These stinging structures are actually organelles of a cell known as a
cnidoblast (nid-o-blast). Cnidoblasts differ
from species to species. They perform
their food-getting or defensive functions in one of three ways:
a. volvents-wrap around and
ensnare the victim
b. penetrants-stick into the
victim, like a harpoon or arrow
c. gllutinants-not only penetrate
the victim, but inject a poison.
Some biologists consider cnidoblasts to be the
most specialized cells in the animal kingdom.
Cnidoblasts are rounded cells with the nucleus
near the base. One end of the cell
contains a short, bristle-like process called a cnidocil. The cnidocil acts like a trigger and is
usually exposed at the surface. The
interior of the cell is filled by a capsule containing a coiled, pleated
tube. The end of the capsule which is
directed outward is covered by a cap or lid.
The
firing mechanism is not well understood.
It appears that chemical changes occur in the cell membrane that cause
an inrushing of water and greatly increased pressure. As a result, the lid is forced open, the tube
turns inside out, and the entire nematocyst explodes to the outside.
VI What's a bluebottle?
RealSurf's SurfHealth Pages
Bluebottles,
the scourge of summer
In
early February 2000, bluebottles hit the beaches of Sydney in plague
proportions. And the email horror stories started arriving at RealSurf. So, we
did the logical thing. We asked folks for their favourite bluebottle sting
treatments.
We've
divided these into two categories: the official and the folk. Official
recommendations come from either medical professionals or from the Surf Life
Saving movement. And the folk category overlaps the official and encompasses
everything else.
OFFICIAL
BLUEBOTTLE (Man-of-War)TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
The
Medico:
The
Bluebottle or Portuguese Man-of-war inhabits (and at times infests), with seasonal
variation, the warmer seas of the world. Each bluebottle is actually a small
colony of creatures that all perform different, complementary roles. The gas
filled body is one single animal- the float. Half of them have sails oriented
one way and half at ninety degrees- so they sail in different directions and
spread out further. Smaller organisms are responsible for reproduction and the
most evil ones, the nematocysts, make up the small tentacles on the float and
the long tentacle (up to ten metres long). These tentacles carry the venom and
cause the stings. They are actually used to paralyse and trap small fish, which
these wretched creatures eat to survive. When the wind blows onshore, they can
appear at beaches in large numbers, stinging local heroes and kooks
indiscriminately.
As
a doctor in Accident and Emergency in a hospital close to the beach, I see
loads of bluey stings in summer. Over the years, various remedies have been
advocated eg rubbing sand on a sting, which pushes the venom deeper into the
skin and makes it worse; ice, which does decrease the swelling and inflammation
but doesn't destroy the toxin; vinegar, which as a weak acid has a mild effect
on neutralising the toxin but doesn't work that well; and Stingose, which
according to one text I consulted is pretty useless.
The
current recommended treatment is to put the sting in hot water, preferably in a
shower, as hot as you can stand for at least fifteen minutes. The heat
denatures the toxins. I've tried it myself and reckon it works pretty well, but
by the time you get to the shower you will probably already have a few welts.
Ice is good for these, scratching is bad and moisturiser (or hydrocortisone
cream) is soothing. Anti-histamines can largely relieve the itch eg Telfast,
which you can buy at the chemist (follow the directions.) At night a sedating
antihistamine like Phenergan can help you sleep and relieve the itch.
With
a bad sting, the venom can cause nausea and joint pain. If it gets into the
lymphatic system, it can cause excruciating pain in the lymph nodes eg in the
groin if stung on the leg. This doesn't usually last more than an hour or two
and simple analgesics like panadeine or panadol are usually effective. This
pain can be almost overwhelming.
Lastly,
although I have never seen a case, anaphyllaxis can occur ie system shut down
due to severe allergic reaction- low blood pressure, rapid pulse and breathing
difficulty. This requires emergency treatment in hospital or from the ambos
with hydrocortisone, antihistamines and sometimes adrenaline(or epinephrine if
you are from Don's homeland)…every minute is crucial when this occurs.
Breathing trouble is more likely in asthmatics, children and people known to be
allergic to blue-bottle venom. Any sign of chest tightness or breathing trouble
is a good reason to get to hospital immediately. There have been recorded cases
of death from Portuguese Man-of-war stings, though as far I am aware, there
have been none in Australia.
It's
hard to say anything positive about these hateful creatures, but when the
nor'easter is howling on your one afternoon off for the month and you have to
paddle out anyway, wear a long rashy or a steamer or be prepared to suffer.
They are after all only trying to catch some fish…
Sources
1.
Dangerous Marine Creatures Dr Carl Edmonds Copyright 1989 Reed Books Pty. Ltd.
2.
Venomous Creatures of
3.
The ER
4.
Thousands of hours in the water
Official
SLSA treatment: Remove all stingers
IceStingose Previous years
Vinegar (not something you normally have at the beach).
Spongy
landscapes
name..................................................................pd...............
1. What kind of symmetry do sponges have?
(Name 2)
2.
A) What is the name of the incurrent waterway?
B) What is the name of the excurrent waterway?
3.
What is a wandering amebocyte?
4.
What animals are found around sponges?
“Common
Jellyfish”
1.
What are the characteristics of a jellyfish?
2.
What is a nematocyst?
3.
How do adult jellyfish (medusae) move from one place to another?
4.
What direction can adult jellyfish (medusae) move on their own?
5.
What do jellyfish eat?
6.
How are jellyfish useful to man?
7.
How is a sea nettle different from a jellyfish?
8.
How is a moon jelly different from a jellyfish?
9.
What phyla do comb jellys belong?
10.
(A)How are comb jellys different than jellyfish?
(B) How are comb jellys similar to jellyfish?
11. What does luminescent mean?
12.
How is the sea walnut harmful to sea life?
13.
How dangerous are jellyfish and what should you do if stung?
14.
Is pollution causing an increase in the abundance of jellyfish?
15.
What other problems can jellyish cause?
8.
Killer Down Under
Name....................................pd...........
1. How
many people have died in the last century from the BOX jelly stings? (A) 30 (B) 60
(C) 65 (D)4
2.
How quickly can cube (box) jelly venom kill a human? (A) several hours (B) 4 minutes or less (C) an hour
(D) it doesn't kill
3.
How does the venom affect the heart?
(A) speeds it up (B) only effects
nerve cells not heart (C) slows it down
and stops it
4.
What is the difference between a planulae and a polyp? (A) planula are mobile and polyps are
attached (B) planula are attached and
polyps are mobile (C) polyps are adults
and planula are larva
5.
Where were Chironex medusa found in the wild? (A) close to the mainland (B) in estuaries and streams (C) up to 40 miles offshore (D) a and b are correct (E) b and c are correct.
6.
How long does it take for a box jelly to undergo metamorphosis? (A) 12 days
(B) 24 days (C) 6 years (D) 4 hours
7. What causes the stinging cells to be
triggered? (A) stimulated by temperature
changes (B) stimulated by touch
only (C) stimulated by chemicals (D) b and c are correct
8.
Where in
9.
What is a pedalium? (A)
tentacles (B) mouth part (C) feeding appendage (D) a live shrimp fed to cube jellies
10.
What feeds off box jellies? (A)
Asian fishermen (B) sea turtles (C) Great White Sharks (D) Sea Snakes
Darken in the correct answer
1.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E| 2.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E|
3
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E| 4.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E|
5.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E| 6.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E|
7.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E| 8.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E|
9.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E| 10.
|A| |B| |C|
|D| |E|
9.
QUESTIONS
SEA LICE
1.
During what time of year does this occur?
2.
Which part of the body do the rashes occur?
3.
What were some of the names of these rashes?
4.
What 2 facts did Dr. Wiley Sams come up with?
5.
What are sea lice?
6.
What did the water samples taken show?
7.
What causes the outbreaks in
8. Why are the highest incidence of cases in
9.
What causes the outbreaks?
10.
What are some of the symptoms?
11.
How are the rashes treated?
12.
Why is this worse in children than adults?
13.
Is the rash contagious?
14. List 4 ways to avoid this problem.
QUESTION S WITH RUB-A-DUB
1. How is
water moved through the sponge?
2. What
adaptations (special structures or behavior) allow the sponge to lead a sessile
existence?
3. From the
outside in, what structures comprise the body wall of the sponge?
4. Name the
4 types of spicules and how they would be useful to biologists?
The STING
5. What are
the two body forms found among cnidarians?
Describe each
6. Name the
3 classes of cnidarians and give an example of each.
7. What are
the three types of nematocysts and how does each type function?
Get your answers for the following from the STING
reading.
Jellyfish, sea anemones , corals are all
interesting animals. Jellyfish come in a
great variety of sizes and color. From
microscopic, clear specimens to the Portuguese Man of War with tentacles
several meters in length, all of the
jelly fish are
__ __ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __ __
9 11
6 7 4
5 3 8
2 1 10
To learn what this word is, 1. from the following list of words, select the
one that best fit each definition below and write it in the spaces at the
left. Start with the first space and
don’t worry if it doesn’t go all the way across. Transfer the circled letters to the spaces
above.
words:
medusa penetrants scyphozoa
volvents tissue hydrozoa
anthozoa Cnidaria larval
cnidoblast nematocysts
sacklike radial polyp
tentacle cilia
__ __ __ __ 0
__ __ __ __ __ __
__ 1. Sea anemone belongs to this class
of cnidarians.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 0
__ __ 2. These specialized cells contain the
nematocysts.
__ 0
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
3. Members of this phylum are tentacle
bearing radially symmetrical animals which posses stinging cells.
0
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 4. During this stage, the jellyfish is
microscopic and covered with cilia.
__ __ __ __ __ 0
__ __ __ __ __ __ 5. This umbrella shaped form found among the
cnidarians takes its name from Greek Mythology.
__ __ __ __ __ 0
__ __ __ __ __ __ 6.
These specialized structures are used to harpoon, ensnare or poison.
0
__ __
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 7. A cylindrical body form, attached at the
base, with tentacles encircling the mouth
__ __ __ 0
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 8. The
presence of this kind of body allows the cnidarians to use a much greater range
of food sizes than is possible in the sponge.
__ __ __ __ __ __ 0
__ __ __ __ __
9. Jellyfish belong to this class
of cnidarians.
__ __ 0
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 10. These projections are found on all
cnidarians.
__ 0
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 11. Cnidoblasts of this variety wrap around and
ensnare the victim.
15. rubadubquest cwks hd