Urticating macromedusae and stinging bathers on the South Atlantic coast: Oceanographic and climatological conditions of Olindias sambaquiensis (Müller, 1861) outbreaks

• Published in: Continental shelf research 2023-10, Vol.269, p.105128, Article 105128
• Main Authors: Resgalla, Charrid, Kruger, Katlyn Christine, Lino Massarani Costa, Marco Aurélio, Santos Sarraff, Thiago Eloi, Leite da Silva, Andressa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bathers; Macro jellyfish; Oceanographic conditions; Outbreaks; Population dynamics; Stings
• ISSN: 0278-4343
• DOI: 10.1016/j.csr.2023.105128

Incidents of bathers being stung by jellyfish on the coast of southern Brazil have been monitored from 2012 to 2022 to identify the species involved and to search for patterns of behavior in different summer seasons. For 10 years of monitoring, data on occurrence, density and the crossing with the abiotic variables of temperature and salinity of the water and wind direction were obtained. During the investigated period, seven species of macro jellyfish were recorded out, four of them were urticating species, in wich Olindias sambaquiensis was the most frequent and abundant. Based on physical-chemical data on the seawater in this area, the cohorts, and consequently the success in the recruitment and the density of the O. sambaquiensis, may be related with years of low salinity of these Coastal Water. This hydrozoan was also the only species that showed a correlation between average annual density values and incidents of bathers being stung in subsequent summers. Likewise, on a monthly time scale, incidents of stings were correlated with winds from the south quadrant that could promote the transport of organisms to the beach region. A predictive model of the occurrence of jellyfish stinging events is presented and applied for the summer of 2023. [Display omitted] •Three out of the four species of urticating jellyfish show spring reproductive peaks.•O.sambaquiensis Is the most abundant species of macro jellyfish in southern Brazil.•Success of jellyfish recruitment seems to be related to the salinity of the water.•Transport of jellyfish to the beach is associated with southerly winds.•A predictive model for the occurrence of stings outbreaks in bathers is proposed.