New lineage of Aurelia discovered in the subtropical East Asia

Abstract

The diversity and distribution of gelatinous zooplankton remain poorly understood in the northern limit of Southeast Asia, especially on Okinawa Island, though high biodiversity is expected in this area. Jellyfish belonging to the genus Aurelia , which have the potential to impact coastal ecosystems and human society, were investigated on Okinawa Island, and their COI and 16S rRNA gene sequences were analysed to clarify the genetic diversity. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most individuals clustered within the clade of Aurelia malayensis , a species known to be widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. In contrast, a small number of individuals formed a distinct clade that did not correspond to any known lineages of Aurelia. This lineage is provisionally designated ‘ Aurelia sp. Churaumi’. This lineage is currently known only from Okinawa Island, and its discovery suggests that the biodiversity of gelatinous zooplankton in the Ryukyu Islands may have been underestimated. Our findings highlight the importance of reassessing the diversity and distribution of Aurelia in tropical and subtropical regions, as ongoing environmental change and global warming may alter their distribution.