In situ time budgets of the scyphomedusae Aurelia aurita, Cyanea sp., and Chrysaora quinquecirrha

Abstract

The in situ behavior of three scyphomedusan species was video recorded by scuba divers in natural daytime lighting with minimal interference to the medusae. The mean percentage of time that individual medusae spent swimming ranged from 93 to 100%. There were no significant differences in the percent time spent swimming between life stages of a species (ephyra, adult) or between species. The predominance of swimming activity by medusae indicates that swimming, and hence the creation of fluid motions responsible for prey entrainment and capture, plays a widespread functional role in feeding by scyphomedusae.