Population dynamics and energetics of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in Sevastopol Bay

Citation
Ga. Finenko et Za. Romanova, Population dynamics and energetics of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in Sevastopol Bay, OCEANOLOGY, 40(5), 2000, pp. 677-685
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences","Earth Sciences
Journal title
OCEANOLOGY
ISSN journal
00014370 → ACNP
Volume
40
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
677 - 685
Database
ISI
SICI code
0001-4370(200009/10)40:5<677:PDAEOT>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
The population dynamics of the abundance and biomass were studied and the s pecific production of population of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi was es timated in Sevastopol Bay during one year (from January 1995 to March 1996) . The ctenophores achieved maximum abundance and biomass in July during the period of intensive reproduction. The young specimens (<5 mm) contributed during that period as much as 50-87% to the total abundance of the populati on. The annually averaged daily specific growth rate was 0.039. The growth, food consumption, and the rate of filtration were measured in the laborato ry under two concentrations of food (Acartia clausi and Moina micrura; 60 a nd 100 specimens per liter, 0.35 and 0.60 mg wet weight/l). Both concentrat ions sustained the growth of the animals with a dry weight less than 20 mg; however, these concentrations were insufficient to sustain the growth of l arger ctenophores. The specific growth rate of the ctenophores with a dry w eight <20 mg under favorable food conditions was 0.20-0.30. The specific gr owth rate of the ctenophores in Sevastopol Bay never exceeded 0.093, the me an biomass of fodder zooplankton in the bay being 90 mg/m(3) in terms of we t weight. Hence, the conclusion was made that the population of M. leidyi i n the bay was limited by the lack of food.