Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-393
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-393
31 May 2022
 | 31 May 2022

Multi-platform study of the extreme bloom of the barrel jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) in the northernmost gulf of the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Trieste) in April 2021

Nydia Catalina Reyes Suàrez, Valentina Tirelli, Laura Ursella, Matjaž Ličer, Massimo Celio, and Vanessa Cardin

Abstract. On 7 April 2021, an exceptional bloom of the scyphomedusa Rhizostoma pulmo was observed in the Gulf of Trieste (Italy). Blooms of this species in the northern Adriatic Sea have been reported since the late 1800s, however, the density of jellyfish observed in 2021 reached more than 10 specimens per square metre. In this work, we analyse the bloom from a multiplatform approach using observations and model data at different time scales. We attempt to explain the intensity of the bloom as a consequence of thermohaline and hydrodynamical conditions in the gulf. Meteo-oceanographic conditions that may have contributed to the exceptional aggregation of jellyfish observed along the northernmost coast of the Adriatic Sea are discussed in detail. Specifically, our results indicate that this bloom was enabled by 1) the presence of a high number of jellyfish in the Gulf probably linked to the anomalously warm sea conditions in spring 2020 and winter 2021 which may have favoured a longer reproductive period and enhanced survival of adult R. pulmo respectively; 2) strong wind events, such as the Bora wind for the Gulf of Trieste, which enhanced upwelling and mixing processes in the Gulf bringing the jellyfish from the deeper waters to the surface and clustering them along the coast.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

13 Sep 2022
Multi-platform study of the extreme bloom of the barrel jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) in the northernmost gulf of the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Trieste) in April 2021
Nydia Catalina Reyes Suárez, Valentina Tirelli, Laura Ursella, Matjaž Ličer, Massimo Celio, and Vanessa Cardin
Ocean Sci., 18, 1321–1337, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1321-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1321-2022, 2022
Short summary

Nydia Catalina Reyes Suàrez et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-393', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez, 22 Jul 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-393', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez, 22 Jul 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-393', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez, 22 Jul 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-393', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC2', Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez, 22 Jul 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez on behalf of the Authors (04 Aug 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (08 Aug 2022) by Mario Hoppema
AR by Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez on behalf of the Authors (09 Aug 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (10 Aug 2022) by Mario Hoppema
AR by Nydia Catalina Reyes Suarez on behalf of the Authors (10 Aug 2022)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

13 Sep 2022
Multi-platform study of the extreme bloom of the barrel jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) in the northernmost gulf of the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Trieste) in April 2021
Nydia Catalina Reyes Suárez, Valentina Tirelli, Laura Ursella, Matjaž Ličer, Massimo Celio, and Vanessa Cardin
Ocean Sci., 18, 1321–1337, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1321-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1321-2022, 2022
Short summary

Nydia Catalina Reyes Suàrez et al.

Nydia Catalina Reyes Suàrez et al.

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
On 7 April 2021, an exceptional bloom of barrel jellyfish was observed in the Gulf of Trieste (Italy), where the observed density reached more than 10 jellyfish per square metre. In this paper, we analyse the bloom using observations and model data to try to explain the intensity of the bloom as a consequence of oceanographic conditions in the gulf and how these may have contributed to the exceptional jellyfish aggregation observed.