Aquaculture of Irukandji jellyfishes to supply the needs of research and education (C6.6)

Task leader: Ms Lisa-ann Gershwin, James Cook University

The biggest roadblock to successful Irukandji study within all research groups has been an adequate supply of properly identified specimens; raising Irukandjis in captivity will eliminate this hurdle. We have recently successfully bred Carukia barnesi in captivity and currently have a flourishing population of thousands of polyps (larval jellyfishes). We anticipate having an ongoing population of thousands of medusae (jellyfishes) once metamorphosis commences. Keeping these medusae alive and growing them to maturity will require additional laboratory space and innovation of rearing methods sensitive to their needs.

We envisage developing aquaculture techniques to grow Irukandjis rapidly through their life cycle, mass production of medusae and polyps to provide a more or less unlimited supply of specimens to other research groups, and conducting manipulative experiments to understand the basic ecological parameters of C. barnesi. Polyps are already being used for educational outreach and awareness programs, and are available to other research groups.