Evidence of Diel Vertical Migration in Mnemiopsis leidyi

Abstract

The vertical distribution and migration of plankton organisms may have a large impact on their horizontal dispersal and distribution, and consequently on trophic interactions. In this study we used video-net profiling to describe the fine scale vertical distribution of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Kattegat and Baltic Proper. Potential diel vertical migration was also investigated by frequent filming during a 24-hour cycle at two contrasting locations with respect to salinity stratification. The video profiles revealed a pronounced diel vertical migration at one of the locations. However, only the small and medium size classes migrated, on average 0.85 m h−1, corresponding to a total migration distance of 10 m during 12 h. Larger individuals (with well developed lobes, approx. >27 mm) stay on average in the same depth interval at all times. Biophysical data suggest that migrating individuals likely responded to light, and avoided irradiance levels higher than approx. 10 µmol quanta m−2 s−1. We suggest that strong stratification caused by low surface salinity seemed to prohibit vertical migration.

Identifying the drivers of abundance and size of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in Northwestern Mediterranean lagoons

“…com. ) and <3 in the Azov Sea (Shiganova et al, 2001a;Haraldsson et al, 2014), as well as high salinity of 42e46 in Mar Menor lagoon (Marambio et al, 2013). Nevertheless, the optimal conditions for the reproduction of M. leidyi usually match those observed in our study (10e30), while it becomes reduced beyond (Lehtiniemi et al, 2012).…”

“…Additional factors, not taken into account in this model, may contribute shaping the abundance variability of M. leidyi in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea as observed in other basins: e.g. hydrography (Shiganova et al, 2001a;Schaber et al, 2011b), depth (Haraldsson et al, 2014), oxygen concentration (Decker et al, 2004), abundance of potential predators (Shiganova et al, 2001b) or competitors (Riisgård et al, 2010).…”

Oxygen, animals and aquatic bioturbation: An updated account

“…The primary motive for this daily commute to depth is visual predation, with primary consumers seeking refuge at depth during daylight hours and returning to the surface at night to feed (Bollens & Frost, 1991;Lampert, 1989;Ohman, 1990). Migratory amplitudes of DVM vary from a few tens or hundreds of metres for "jellyfish" (Haraldsson, Båmstedt, Tiselius, Titelman, & Aksnes, 2014;Kaartvedt, Klevjer, Torgersen, Sørnes, & Røstad, 2007) to mesopelagic depths (200-1,000 m) in the case of many salps, squid and fish (Gilly et al, 2006;Houssard et al, 2017;Solberg & Kaartvedt, 2017;Watanabe, Kubodera, Moku, & Kawaguchi, 2006;Wiebe, Madin, Haury, Harbison, & Philbin, 1979). Collectively, marine DVM is by far the largest coordinated movement of biomass on the planet-a continuous standing wave of pursued and pursuing animals extending across all but the highest latitude oceans (Wallace, Cottier, Brierley, & Tarling, 2013).…”

Species Composition and Distribution of Jellyfish in a Seasonally Hypoxic Estuary, Hood Canal, Washington

“…was more patchily distributed but did not appear to avoid hypoxic water, and was in highest abundance in the most hypoxic layer in October although existing oxygen levels were below their P crit . Additionally, that M. atlantica was most abundant near surface during daytime suggests they were not performing diel vertical migration (DVM), contrary to reports that many jellyfish do, including other species of Muggiaea [47][48][49].…”