Examination of statocysts of scyphomedusae and cubomedusae to clarify phylogenetic relationships and to develop a method for the age determination of medusae

Esamination of statocysts of scyphomedusae and cubomedusae to clarify phylogenetic relationships and to develop a method for the age determination of medusae (SO 1238/2-1, HO 4097/3-1)

Jellyfish (Scyphozoa) und box jellyfish (Cubozoa) have complex sensing organs (rhopalia), which bear a statocyst with anorganic crystals (statoliths). Former investigations clarified the chemical composition, the crystallografy and the morphology of statoliths of single species and illustrated differences. Investigations of a higher number of species shall illuminate, if statoliths and statocyst are useful tool to clarify phylogenetical relationships of the taxon Cnidaria. Furthermore we examine the possibility of age determination for medusae.