Aequorea Victoria: Nature's Glowing Wonder

selim12 December 1, 2023 0 Comments

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Hey DeepSea Community, today we’re going to talk about one of the mysterious deep sea creatures in the vast ocean, the aequorea victoria also known by the name crystal jelly, from the family Invertebrates(An invertebrate is a cold-blooded animal with no backbone).

Scientific Name

Habitat

Diet

aequorea victoria

North American west coast of the Pacific Ocean

zooplankton, including copepods, crab goals, barnacle nauplii, and other tiny oceanic treasures

Animal Type

Jellyfish

Size

3 cm

Depth

surface to up to 200 meters deep

History And Who Discover This DeepSea JellyFish:

In the 1960s, Osamu Shimomura’s study of the bioluminescent jellyfish Aequorea victoria led to a significant scientific breakthrough. He discovered the jellyfish’s green fluorescent protein (GFP) in 1961, which later became a key tool in contemporary bioscience. This discovery has had a far-reaching impact, with Martin Chalfie using GFP to study the cell, leading to a revolution in cell biology.

Crystal Jellyfish Scientific Name:

Its scientific name is Aequorea Victoria.

Appearance And Morphology:

The first important thing to notice about the Aequorea Victoria is the color: it’s almost transparent, so difficult to resolve to have a highly contractile mouth(to swallow much larger prey, more half than its own size). It has almost 150 tentacles for adults. Its tentacles have nematocysts(organism-delivering stings) that help capture prey with no significant danger to humans. Beyond 3 cm, these remarkable specimens have reproductive gonads. These crystal jellies are known to have aequorin (a photoprotein), and green fluorescent protein (GFP) which are responsible for producing bioluminescence: it’s the process of producing light by a deep sea creature through one of its organisms or whole body(partial or global bioluminescence).

Aequorea Victoria Distribution:

They live in open waters specifically in the North American west coast of the Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea to southern California from the surface to up to 200 meters deep(sunlight still reachable) in the Mesopelagic Zone.

Aequorea Victoria Size:

They Can grow to 25 centimeters.

Crystal JellyFish Diet:

they mainly feed on a delectable twist with a side of crustacean zooplankton, including copepods, crab zoeas, barnacle nauplii, and other tiny oceanic treasures.

Does Aequorea Victoria Have predators?

They are mainly the favorite dish of voracious scyphozoan Cyanea capillata, commonly called the lion’s mane jelly. As well as ctenophores, siphonophores, and other hydromedusae. Cannibalism exists among jellyfish (they are known to eat each other).

How do they produce light?

The Aequorea Victoria is capable of producing flashes of blue light by a quick release of calcium (Ca²⁺), which interacts with the photoprotein aequorin. The blue light produced is in turn transduced to green by the green fluorescent protein (GFP). The production of light is a key element of the survival of the deep sea crystal jelly.

See Them In Action:

Crystal Jellyfish LifeSpan:

They typically have a lifespan of around 6 to 12 months in the wild but can live up to two years.

Importance In Research:

These crystal jellyfish species are responsible for the discovery of green fluorescent protein (GFP).

Crystal Jellyfish Sting:

It is usually harmless to humans and does not sting.

Crystal Jellyfish Reproduction & lifecycle:

The juvenile medusae are asexually budded off hydroid colonies in late spring; spending all their live in the plankton. They grow very quickly in the first stage of their lives; but soon after reaching 3 cm, they begin producing gametes for reproduction. Each medusa is either a male or female. Each day, within the medusa’s gonads, the eggs and spermatozoa undergo maturation, a process fueled by an ample food supply. In response to the daily prompt of light, they are liberally released into the water column, where a ballet of fertilization occurs, eventually leading to their gentle descent and the birth of a nascent hydroid colony.

Cultural Significance:

Influence in Art and Literature: Depicted in paintings, sculptures, and poetry as a symbol of beauty and mystery. Popular Culture References: Featured in documentaries, films, and novels, captivating audiences worldwide.

Aequorea Victoria Conservation Status:

These Bioluminescent jellyfish species are sometimes mistaken for plastic bags and other trash materials. They are also fragile to water quality so water pollution is a great danger to their lifecycle.

Importance Of Aequorea Victoria:

They are called the most influential bioluminescent marine organisms due to their green fluorescent protein (GFP) used in laboratory clinics and molecular research.

Milestones in Research: From initial discovery to the elucidation of bioluminescence mechanisms, numerous milestones mark our understanding.

Significant Findings: Insights into GFP’s structure and function have paved the way for diverse applications.

Aequoria Victoria In Popular Media:

Documentaries: Documentaries like “The Glow of the Deep” showcase the mesmerizing beauty of bioluminescent creatures. Films: Fictional works like “The Abyss” feature Aequorea Victoria-inspired creatures, sparking imagination and wonder. Books: Scientific literature and popular science books delve into the mysteries of bioluminescence and marine biology.

Crystal Jellyfish Predators:

The most common prey is other jellies like lion mane Jellyfish. They are also threatened by humans as they are used to conduct research and science.

Unique Adaptations:

It has muscles allowing it to move and feed at the same time.

Osmoregulation Adaptations: This fish is adapted to survive in different salinity levels in the sea.

Swimming Mechanism:Aequorea Victoria exhibits a slow constant motion swimming pattern characterized by contractions of circular muscles that flush water out of its subumbrellar cavity, creating directional currents for feeding.

Crystal Jellyfish Facts:

1-They are poor swimmers!

2-Scientists have used GFP protein to track and study various cellular processes and gene expression in organisms, leading to numerous scientific breakthroughs.

3-Despite the small size, these transparent jellies play a significant role in marine ecosystems and the food web as predator and prey at the same time.

4-the crystal jellyfish have adapted some unique specifications to life in depth, from producing Bioluminescence to transparent bodies, they have adapted to detect changes in light and water pressure, which are crucial for their survival and behavior in the deep sea.

5-Crystal jelly can live more than two years.

The ocean is a vast mysterious place to humans, they say only 10% of worldwide oceans are discovered! Now, we covered all the information about the deep sea Aequorea victoria; what a fascinating creature, if you loved it as I did, follow our social links & stay tuned for more deepsea wonders.