Aurelia spp. ecology in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Aurelia spp. are cosmopolitan scyphozoan species and probably the most studied jellyfish in the world. They inhabit nearshore waters, especially closed basins, such as coastal embayments, fjords and estuaries, occupying a great variety of habitats worldwide. Recent studies have addressed the biogeography of the genus Aurelia and reported that it constitutes a species-complex embracing numerous locally adapted species. The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot of biodiversity threatened by climate change, which is expected to have a significant influence on the biodiversity and biogeography of marine populations. Here we compiled a comprehensive data set on Aurelia spp. occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea and assess the thermal niche in Mediterranean locations.