1. New advances in jellyfish anatomy : the benefits of endocasts and X-ray microtomography in the investigation of the gastrovascular system of Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Scyphozoa; Rhizostomeae; Cepheidae)Gregorio Motta, Marco Voltolini, Lucia Mancini, Diego Dreossi, Francesco Brun, Valentina Tirelli, Lorenzo Peter Castelletto, Manja Rogelja, Antonio Terlizzi, Massimo Avian, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Historically, research on jellyfish anatomy has been viewed as secondary in impor- tance and has not benefited from technical advances that could improve the quality of the results when compared to other disciplines. The most notable example is the anatomical research on jellyfish, which has been done using conventional methods for many years. Thus far, recent studies have shown that X-ray microtomography (μCT) and resin endocasts can yield outputs with remarkably high detail quality. The application of a similar protocol to Cotylorhiza tuberculata has allowed us to rede- scribe the anatomy of this species’ gastrovascular system, providing numerous addi- tional details, among them the double constricted canal structure present in the oral arms, which was absent in previous descriptions. Additionally, functional anatomy experiments have revealed a double circulation system within these canals, featur- ing specialized oral arms’ openings for intake and outflow, as previously observed in Rhizostoma pulmo. These findings challenge the theory of a simple digestive system in scyphozoans featuring openings that acts both as mouths and anuses. Given the genetic distance between Cotylorhiza tuberculata and Rhizostoma pulmo, which belong to different suborders (Kolpophorae and Dactyliophorae, respectively), we propose that this complex gastrovascular circulation pattern may be more wide- spread among the Rhizostomeae.
Keywords: jellyfish anatomy, Cotylorhiza tuberculata, gastrovascular system
Published in RUP: 24.11.2025; Views: 511; Downloads: 3
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2. Can nuisance species profit from new materials for marine artificial structures? : A pilot study on settlement of Chrysaora hysoscella on biochar-based concreteManuela Piccardo, Gregorio Motta, Verdiana Vellani, Massimo Avian, Manja Rogelja, Stanislao Bevilacqua, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Growing ocean-based human activities are causing the expansion of concrete structures in the marine envi- ronment, stressing the need for new solutions to minimize their ecological impact and carbon footprint. A promising approach in this perspective involves the use of biochar, a carbon-rich byproduct from thermo- chemical treatment of waste biomass, as an additive to concrete. However, the introduction of novel substrata could pose unintended threats to marine ecosystems, including the potential diffusion of nuisance species. Here, through a set of laboratory experiments, we provided preliminary evidence on the effects of biochar addition to concrete on settlement and survival of the bloom-forming jellyfish Chrysaora hysoscella. The acute 24/48-h mortality test demonstrated a very low sensitivity of planulae to biochar. At both 7 and 14 days since the exposure to colonization of planula larvae, the number of settled polyps did not differ between concrete con- taining biochar (5–10 % wt.) and conventional concrete. Once settled, polyps exhibited comparable survival regardless of the substratum. Our findings support the hypothesis that biochar-based concrete does not favor the invasiveness of this nuisance species with respect to conventional concrete, paving the way for future research on a wider range of (bio)char types and potentially harmful species, enabling broader implementations of these materials. The inherent advantages of biochar addition to concrete for marine uses, such as waste recycling and carbon storage potential, combined with its neutral effect on the spread of nuisance species, could represent a practicable and biocompatible solution to enhance the sustainability of marine artificial structures.
Keywords: Chrysaora hysoscella, polyps settlement, nuisance species, biochar-based concrete
Published in RUP: 21.10.2025; Views: 593; Downloads: 5
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3. Gibanje in vedenje morskih zvezd : vpliv vrste, velikosti in podlage pri osmih vrstah morskih zvezd (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) iz slovenskega morjaManca Trdan, 2025, undergraduate thesis Keywords: Asteroidea, vedenje morskih zvezd, lokomotorni vzorci, slovensko morje, vpliv vrste in velikosti, diplomske naloge
Published in RUP: 07.10.2025; Views: 498; Downloads: 26
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