The Effects of Salinity on the Growth and Survival, Feeding of Sanderia malayensis (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) Ephyrae

Sanderia malayensis is a species from the phylum Cnidaria, class Scyphozoa, and order Semaeostomeae, found in tropical waters across the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Red Sea, and Malaysia, with its range extending to Australian and Japanese waters. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of salinity on the growth and survival of S. malayensis ephyrae and to identify its optimal salinity range. The experimental design involved two temperature conditions (20°C and 24°C) and three salinity levels (21 PSU, 24 PSU, 27 PSU). The results indicated that growth and feeding abilities of S. malayensis ephyrae were significantly higher in 24 PSU and 27 PSU environments compared to 21 PSU at both temperatures. Survival rates were also higher in 24 PSU (20°C: 90%, 24°C: 79%) and 27 PSU (20°C: 87%, 24°C: 86%) compared to 21 PSU (20°C: 70%, 24°C: 55%). Despite lower survival in 21 PSU, the species exhibited notable environmental adaptability. These findings suggest that S. malayensis ephyrae are highly adaptable to varying salinity conditions, indicating the potential for expansion into South Korean waters affected by climate change, with possible implications for local marine ecosystems.