Meeting Abstract

83.1  Thursday, Jan. 7  Propulsive and feeding mechanisms of the hydromedusae Aequorea victoria and Sarsia tubulosa LIPINSKI, Doug*; MOHSENI, Kamran; Univ. of Colorado, Boulder; Univ. of Colorado, Boulder mohseni@colorado.edu

We examine the flow structures created by the swimming jellyfish Aequorea victoria and Sarsia tubulosa. These jellyfish use two different types of propulsion, rowing and jetting respectively, which produce very different flow structures and swimming characteristics. Aequorea victoria extends it tentacles and feeds while swimming and the flow structures produced during rowing propulsion tend to enhance feeding and produce vortices which linger in the tentacle region. Conversely, Sarsia tubulosa retracts its tentacles and swims to escape predators and reposition itself in the water column. The structures produced during jetting propulsion are not conducive to efficient feeding. We also examine new structures which are observed within the bell of the jellyfish Sarsia tubulosa.