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Similarities between the biochemical composition of jellyfish body and mucus

Similarities between the biochemical composition of jellyfish body and mucus
Similarities between the biochemical composition of jellyfish body and mucus
Recognition of the importance of jellyfish in marine ecosystems is growing. Yet, the biochemical composition of the mucus that jellyfish constantly excrete is poorly characterized. Here we analyzed the macromolecular (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and elemental (carbon and nitrogen) composition of the body and mucus of five scyphozoan jellyfish species (Aurelia aurita, Chrysaora fulgida, Chrysaora pacifica, Eupilema inexpectata and Rhizostoma pulmo). We found that the relative contribution of the different macromolecules and elements in the jellyfish body and mucus was similar across all species, with protein being the major component in all samples (81 ± 4% of macromolecules; 3.6 ± 3.1% of dry weight, DW) followed by lipids (13 ± 4% of macromolecules; 0.5 ± 0.4%DW) and carbohydrates (6 ± 3% of macromolecules; 0.3 ± 0.4%DW). The energy content of the jellyfish matter ranged from 0.2 to 3.1 KJ g−1 DW. Carbon and nitrogen content was 3.7 ± 3.0 and 1.0 ± 0.8%DW, respectively. The average ratios of protein:lipid:carbohydrate and carbon:nitrogen for all samples were 14.6:2.3:1 and 3.8:1, respectively. Our study highlights the biochemical similarity between the jellyfish body and mucus and provides convenient and valuable ratios to support the integration of jellyfish into trophic and biogeochemical models.
carbohydrate, carbon, lipid, nitrogen, protein
0142-7873
337-344
Hubot, Nathan
9582a5e3-d738-4506-9047-a1eb3b0f44e6
Giering, Sarah L C
e9b75287-e35e-414a-a5f2-cef9f2ab2efd
Lucas, Cathy H
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Irigoien, Xabier
82dafcb7-8ca9-49f5-906c-36da504d50ed
Hubot, Nathan
9582a5e3-d738-4506-9047-a1eb3b0f44e6
Giering, Sarah L C
e9b75287-e35e-414a-a5f2-cef9f2ab2efd
Lucas, Cathy H
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Irigoien, Xabier
82dafcb7-8ca9-49f5-906c-36da504d50ed

Hubot, Nathan, Giering, Sarah L C and Lucas, Cathy H , Irigoien, Xabier (ed.) (2022) Similarities between the biochemical composition of jellyfish body and mucus. Journal of Plankton Research, 44 (2), 337-344. (doi:10.1093/plankt/fbab091).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Recognition of the importance of jellyfish in marine ecosystems is growing. Yet, the biochemical composition of the mucus that jellyfish constantly excrete is poorly characterized. Here we analyzed the macromolecular (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and elemental (carbon and nitrogen) composition of the body and mucus of five scyphozoan jellyfish species (Aurelia aurita, Chrysaora fulgida, Chrysaora pacifica, Eupilema inexpectata and Rhizostoma pulmo). We found that the relative contribution of the different macromolecules and elements in the jellyfish body and mucus was similar across all species, with protein being the major component in all samples (81 ± 4% of macromolecules; 3.6 ± 3.1% of dry weight, DW) followed by lipids (13 ± 4% of macromolecules; 0.5 ± 0.4%DW) and carbohydrates (6 ± 3% of macromolecules; 0.3 ± 0.4%DW). The energy content of the jellyfish matter ranged from 0.2 to 3.1 KJ g−1 DW. Carbon and nitrogen content was 3.7 ± 3.0 and 1.0 ± 0.8%DW, respectively. The average ratios of protein:lipid:carbohydrate and carbon:nitrogen for all samples were 14.6:2.3:1 and 3.8:1, respectively. Our study highlights the biochemical similarity between the jellyfish body and mucus and provides convenient and valuable ratios to support the integration of jellyfish into trophic and biogeochemical models.

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Accepted/In Press date: 22 December 2021
Published date: 21 January 2022
Additional Information: Funding Information: This work was partly funded by the Graduated School of the National Oceanography Centre Southampton through the Researcher Training Support Grant (RTSG number: 517191102) and by the Newton Fund RCUK-NRF International PhD Partnering Scheme. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s).
Keywords: carbohydrate, carbon, lipid, nitrogen, protein

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 473436
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/473436
ISSN: 0142-7873
PURE UUID: 16c8903f-7c93-4400-bee8-fbc883aac19f
ORCID for Nathan Hubot: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6917-2255
ORCID for Cathy H Lucas: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5929-7481

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Date deposited: 18 Jan 2023 17:41
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 07:36

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Contributors

Author: Nathan Hubot ORCID iD
Author: Sarah L C Giering
Author: Cathy H Lucas ORCID iD
Editor: Xabier Irigoien

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