Box Jellyfish Alatina alata Has a Circumtropical Distribution.

Species of the box jellyfish (Cubozoa) genus Alatina are notorious for their sting along the beaches of several localities of the Atlantic and Pacific. These species include Alatina alata on the Caribbean Island of Bonaire (the Netherlands), A. moseri in Hawaii, and A. mordens in Australia. Most cubozoans inhabit coastal waters, but Alatina is unusual in that specimens have also been collected in the open ocean at great depths. Alatina is notable in that populations form monthly aggregations for spermcast mating in conjunction with the lunar cycle. Nominal species are difficult to differentiate morphologically, and it has been unclear whether they are distinct or a single species with worldwide distribution. Here we report the results of a population genetic study, using nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data from four geographical localities. Our analyses revealed a general lack of geographic structure among Alatina populations, and slight though significant isolation by distance. These data corroborate morphological and behavioral similarities observed in the geographically disparate localities, and indicate the presence of a single, pantropically distributed species, Alatina alata. While repeated, human-mediated introductions of A. alata could explain the patterns we have observed, it seems more likely that genetic metapopulation cohesion is maintained via dispersal through the swimming medusa stage, and perhaps via dispersal of encysted planulae, which are described here for the first time in Alatina.

The relationship between select demographic characteristics and body mass index among Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander caregiving adults.

PURPOSE: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the world. We identified the proportion of our NHOPI sample in each body mass index (BMI) category and explored relationships between BMI and demographic characteristics. DESIGN/METHOD: Our descriptive correlational study included 364 NHOPI caregiver adults in Utah (n = 155) and Hawaii (n = 209). We gathered demographic information with a questionnaire. Height and weight were measured for BMI calculations. RESULTS: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's BMI categories, 84.3% of our sample was overweight or obese. Participants in Utah had significantly higher BMIs than participants in Hawaii. Educational attainment was inversely related with BMI; however, age, gender, and income were not significantly related with BMI. DISCUSSION: NHOPIs on the U.S. mainland may be at greater risk for obesity than those in Hawaii; food price differences between locations may help explain this. NHOPIs in early adulthood had high BMIs; overtime this situation could worsen without intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: NHOPIs with low education levels or in areas of low food prices are at increased risk for obesity. Future research should focus on culturally sensitive interventions to reduce NHOPI obesity and associated risks.