Right at the start of the year, the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna can look forward to two extraordinary first offspring. The luminous jellyfish “Pelagia panopyra” and the comb jellyfish “Bolinopsis mikado” were first bred in a zoo in Europe.
“The difficulty in breeding is to provide the young comb jellyfish with sufficient food and at the same time to ensure very good water quality,” says district manager Roland Halbauer.
Generate light with chemical
According to Halbauer and his team, success has been achieved with a breeding column specially developed for comb jellyfish. Particularly interesting about both species is that they can generate light using chemicals. Not only does this attract food such as plankton, the sea creatures also seem even more fascinating to the human eye.
Oldest creatures in the world
Jellyfish are among the oldest creatures in the world, having existed for over 600 million years. Unlike many other animal species, jellyfish and comb jellyfish are in most cases not threatened with extinction, for example due to human-induced climate change, according to Schönbrunn Zoo. These animals would even benefit from the mix of ocean warming and organic pollution.
“It is therefore of particular importance for science to investigate the survival strategies of these fascinating creatures in times of climate change. Our backstage area is home to one of the largest jellyfish nurseries in the world with more than 70 different species,” said Head of the Zoological Department Anton Weissenbacher.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
