Chemische Zusammensetzung und Biomasseparameter der OhrenqualleAurelia aurita

Abstract

During summer 1982 and 1983, measurements on the chemical composition and biomass parameters ofAurelia aurita from Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic, were made. The relationships between size vs. wet weight and wet weight vs. carbon content were determined. Dry weight accounted for less than 2% of wet weight in both years. Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content of whole medusae were 51–52, 14 and 1.4 mg/g dry weight (dw) respectively. The C:N ratio (by weight) was about 3.7 and the C:N:P-ratio (by atoms) was determined to be 94:22:1. Proteins and carbohydrates made up 59 and 29 mg/g dw. Lipids were estimated to be 19 mg/g dw. Using these data, it was possible to calculate the caloric content of the medusae to be about 0.55 cal/mg dw. In summer 1982, the organic content of different tissues (gonad, oral arm, umbrella) in unfertilized and fertilized females was studied. In unfertilized females, the gonads exhibited the highest values, the umbrella had the lowest values and the values of oral arm tissue were intermediate. However, in fertilized females the oral arm tissue was enriched, whereas the gonads were impoverished; both types of tissues exhibited very similar values. This pattern can be explained by the transfer of fertilized eggs from the gonads into the brood pouches of the oral arms.