A Forensic Approach to Elucidating the Life History of the Deadly Jellyfish Chironex fleckeri using eDNA. (Old ID 27045)

Principal Investigator

The polyps of the deadly Chironex fleckeri represent the longest-lived stage of jellyfish and are the source of medusa. However, there is almost no information on the benthic polyp stages of this species. Environmental DNA should allow me to detect polyps and therefore identify the sources of jellyfish which will increase our understanding of cubozoan ecology and how to minimise their threat of envenomating humans. Further, oceanographic modelling, that incorporates the decay of eDNA, will provide greater knowledge of ‘DNA’ halos’ that signals proximity to targeted polyp beds and jellyfish aggregations.

01 Nov 2020 - 31 Oct 2022

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