SYDNEY, Jun 21 (NNN-AAP) – Once thought to be a single species found worldwide, the bluebottle has now been identified as at least four genetically distinct species, a new research revealed.
The bluebottle is a frequent summer visitor to Sydney beaches, often blown ashore by the wind.
An international team, led by Yale University with Australia’s University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Griffith University, sequenced 151 specimens worldwide, according to a news release from Griffith University yesterday.
The study signalled hidden biodiversity in marine ecosystems, urging a rethink of ocean conservation frameworks, experts said.
The research confirmed four species of bluebottle. By cross-referencing genomic data, the scientists validated distinct physical forms, initially proposed in the 18th-19th centuries, but later dismissed, the news release said.
“The bluebottle is uniquely suited to long-distance travel, using its gas-filled float and muscular crest to catch the wind and sail the sea surface,” said Kylie Pitt from Griffith University.
The discovery that multiple bluebottle species coexist in eastern Australia, challenged the assumption that open-ocean connectivity prevents the formation of new species, the researchers said.
Identifying where each species occurs could improve sting prevention and beach safety forecasts, an area currently being studied by UNSW in collaboration with Surf Life Saving Australia.– NNN-AAP
