TEMPERATURE STRESS INDUCES DYNAMIC CHAOS IN A CNIDARIAN GASTROVASCULAR SYSTEM

We observe ordered (i.e. limit cycle) oscillations in the polyps and s tolons of Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus at temperatures routinely expe rienced by animals in the wild. We present evidence that the gastrovas cular behaviour undergoes a transition, as temperature is increased, f rom an ordered to a chaotic regime, with the transition characterized by intermittent behaviour. These findings bear on the response of cnid arians to climate change.