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Acartia tonsa
Acartia tonsa is a species of copepod. These copepods are said to be cosmopolitan, which means that the can be found all over the world. Since they are able to live in wide variety of locations, they are also able to tolerate a wider range of both temperatures (-1 to 32ºC; 30 to 90°F) and salinity (1 ppt to 38 ppt). Generally, these copepods are found in the shallower depths of about 50 meters and are in a greater abundance in the temperature range of 17 to 25ºC.
Acartia tonsa bilaterally symmetrical, meaning that when observed from above, it will be symmetrical if and imaginary vertical line were to be drawn through it. They also have two long antennae that are immediately noticeable because of their size with relation to the rest of the body. These copepods can be divided into three sections: prosome, metasome and urosome. The prosome is the head area where the sensory organs are located. The metasome contains the legs and extensions that help it to swim. Lastly, the urosome contains the sexual organs.
These copepods are essential to the ecosystem in that they are a key piece of the food chain. They eat phytoplankton and algae and are also a food source for other larger fish and zooplankton. They also are important because they provide the starting link from the tiny photosynthetic phytoplankton to the animals that are higher up on the food chain. Acartia tonsa also help to put nutrients back into the ecosystem and aid in the transfer of energy throughout it as well.
1. Copepods start out as an egg. The eggs sink to the bottom and that is where the growing process begins. Water temperature that is too cold will make this process take longer.
2. After the eggs have developed, they will hatch into nauplii. Nauplii have something called a maxillopodan eye, which is a receptor that takes in light. They then go through five to six stages until they have gotten rid of the maxillopodan eye to become copepodites (small copepods).
3. They then go through five more stages of development until they finally become fully grown and mature copepods.
***Female copepods live longer than male copepods. They generally live 70-80 days whereas the males only live about 15.***
***Female copepods live longer than male copepods. They generally live 70-80 days whereas the males only live about 15.***
One of the ways that they have adapted to the environment is in their antennae. Their antennae are used for sensing unusual vibration patterns, food, chemicals, mates, and predators. They are a key instrument to help them survive and reproduce and to ensure the species' survival.
Euterpina acutifrons
Euterpina acutifrons is another species of copepod. It lives in the neritic zone in tropical and subtropical locations, much like that of the previous species.
Its body structure is similar but there are some significant differences. Euterpina acutifrons lacks the lengthy antennae that extend outwards off of the Acartia tonsa. Another difference is that the head of this copepod is fused with the middle segment which would impact mobility. It also has a rostrum, which is a beaklike projection, off of the head.
The life cycle and niche of this species is the same as the above species.
Like the Acartia tonsa, this species of copepod has developed sensory extensions on its head. They are more easily visible on the righthand picture. They are much smaller than those of the other species, nonetheless, they are still important to its survival.
Cnidaria scyphozoa aurelia
Intro: Jellyfish are considered to be a type of zooplankton. They drift with the oceans current although some do have the ability to swim. The medusae jellyfish is one of the most familiar jellyfish and belong in two divisions of the Cnidaria phylum.
Habitat: While jellyfish prefer both cold and warm waters, shallow and deep waters, they specifically migrate towards the shoreline or in coral reefs for feeding purposes. (according to kids.nationalgeographic.com.)
Role in Ecosystem: According to kids.nationalgeographic.com, jellyfish have been in the ocean for millions of years. According to animals.nationalgeographic.com, As part of the species of anemone, jellyfish, while lingering in corals and algae, they receive oxygen and sugar from a symbiotic relationship with said habitats.
Lifecycle: Jellyfish usually live to be around five years old, they are very light weight; however, their full size varies depending on the type of jellyfish.
Survival adaption: According to kids.nationalgeographic.com, jellyfish stun or paralyze their prey before they consume them. Their mouths are the opening of the bell-shaped body and they digest their food at a rapid rate. To move, they squirt water from their mouths. When they feel threatened by a human, most jellyfish stings are painful and some, but rarely are they, fatal.
Bov, C. Razouls F. de. "Acartia (Acanthacartia) tonsa - Species Card - Marine Planktonic Copepods." Acartia (Acanthacartia) tonsa - Species Card - Marine Planktonic Copepods. Accessed January 02, 2017. http://copepodes.obs-banyuls.fr/en/fichesp.php?sp=13.
"Euterpina acutifrons." Euterpina acutifrons | Zooplankton Guide. Accessed January 02, 2017. https://scripps.ucsd.edu/zooplanktonguide/species/euterpina-acutifrons.
Gonzalez, Gonzalo. "Acartia tonsa." Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 02, 2017. http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Acartia_tonsa/.
A-Z Animals, "Jellyfish," A-Z Animals, 2008-2016, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/jellyfish/.
"Bermuda's Coral Reefs," CoExploration, http://www.coexploration.org/bbsr/coral/html/body_zooplankton.html.
Marine Bio, "Zooplankton," Marine Bio, 1999-2017, http://marinebio.org/oceans/zooplankton/.
National Geographic Animals, "Sea Anemone," National Geographic Animals, 2016, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/sea-anemone/.
National Geographic Kids, "Jellyfish," National Geographic Kids, 2016, http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/jellyfish/#jellyfish-tentacles.jpg.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, "Jellyfish and Other Zooplankton," Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2017, https://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/jellyfish-zooplankton.
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