An illustration on alternating reproductive cycle describes the following steps:

1. Fertilization occurs in the open water, producing many diploid zygotes.
2. Each zygote grows into a swimming larva, which eventually attaches to a hard surface and develops into a polyp.
3. The polyp reproduces asexually by budding, releasing young medusas.
4. Adult medusas reproduce sexually by releasing gametes into the water.

The cycle is color-coded as orange for Haploid (N) and blue for Diploid (2N). The following are also marked on the illustration:

• MEIOSIS
• FERTILIZATION
• Female medusa (2N)
• Egg (N)
• Sperm (N)
• Zygote (2N)
• Swimming larva
• Polyp
• Budding polyp
• Young medusas
• Male medusa (2N)