110 observations of the deep-sea jellyfish Stygiomedusa gigantea were compiled over a 110-year period from 1899 to 2009, representing 118 individual specimens. The dataset was created by researchers from JAMSTEC, Louisiana State University, and the University of South Alabama, aggregating records from the SERPENT Project and other sources. It confirms the species is cosmopolitan, with records from all oceans except the Arctic.
Use Cases
- Analyze species depth distribution patterns (mesopelagic, bathypelagic) across different latitudes using observation location and depth data.
- Study the symbiotic relationship with the fish Thalassobathia pelagica using co-occurrence records from the Gulf of Mexico observations.
- Model global geographic distribution and confirm cosmopolitan range using the 110 observation locations spanning all major oceans.
- Investigate potential feeding behavior by examining records of individuals clinging to subsea structures.
- Examine temporal occurrence trends over the 110-year observation period to assess survey frequency or detectability changes.
Strengths
- Long-term temporal coverage spanning 110 years from 1899 to 2009.
- Global spatial coverage with 110 observations from all oceans except the Arctic.
- Includes rare in-situ observations of a deep-sea species, with detailed notes on behavior and symbiosis.
Limitations
- Small sample size for the focal Gulf of Mexico study, with only four individuals observed.
- Potential observation bias as data is aggregated from disparate sources with non-standardized collection methods.
- Lacks detailed column specifications and sample data, limiting immediate analytical utility.
Provenance
- Source
- Data extracted from a paper by Mark C. Benfield (Louisiana State University) and William M. Graham (University of South Alabama), provided by Dhugal Lindsay (JAMSTEC).
- Collection Method
- Observations compiled from industrial remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) as part of the SERPENT Project and other historical records.
- Time Range
- 1899 to 2009
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Global, with specific observations in the northern Gulf of Mexico; records from all oceans except the Arctic.