Abstract
A study of the invasive alien freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii (Lankester, 1880) in the drainage basin of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), the Golan Heights was carried out on August 27, 2011. Jellyfish were found in a small permanent pool located in the upper part of the Zavitan River. Chemical parameters and plankton composition were documented.
Highlights
Craspedacusta sowerbii (Lankester, 1880) is a worldwide freshwater jellyfish, which is known from all continents except Antarctica (Dumont 1994; Jankowski 2001; Raposiero et al 2011)
Specimen identification and verification were approved by indicative characteristics of Craspedacusta sowerbii : flattened bell shape; size 3 – 5 cm; translucent body with a whitish tinge; four radial and one circular canal; solid tentacles of varied lengths arranged in clusters of 4 – 6 short tentacles between individual longer ones; eye spots at the base of the tentacles; four very long tentacles, each parallel to a radial canal at the edge of the velum; a large manubrium with four frilly lips observed below the center of the inside of the bell and opaque white gonads attached to the four radial canals
Density proportions (%) of plankton groups found in the pond were: phytoplankton – 75% and zooplankton – 25%; Copepoda and Cladocera contributed to 55% of zooplankton with Rotifera making up the remaining 45%
Summary
Craspedacusta sowerbii (Lankester, 1880) is a worldwide freshwater jellyfish, which is known from all continents except Antarctica (Dumont 1994; Jankowski 2001; Raposiero et al 2011). Documentation of the presence of C. sowerbii in the Zavitan River, within the drainage basin of Lake Kinneret is presented here
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