Prey selection and diel feeding of the freshwater jellyfish, Craspedacusta sowerbyi

Spadinger, Reinhard; Maier, Gerhard

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00408.x

Cited by 57 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Cruising and ambush species that were significantly different (Tukey-Kramer post hoc test, p < 0.05) from S. albescens (s), C. sowerbyi (c), N. punctata (n) or all three (a) are denoted. p: significant pooled comparisons since C. sowerbyi (Spadinger & Maier 1999), S. albescens (Mills & Goy 1988, Larson et al 1989, Raskoff 2002 and N. punctata (Larson 1979, present study) have been found to capture prey with their leading tentacles during swimming. Likewise, cruising medusae with trailing tentacles capture prey during swimming using their tentacles, but with the important difference that the prey are caught downstream of the swimming medusa.…”

Section: Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Upstream foraging by medusae

Colin¹,

Costello²,

Kordula³

2006

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Convergence upon similar morphological traits is common among predators feeding on similar prey in similar environments. Aboral placement of tentacles during swimming appears to be such a trait and has evolved in parallel among several medusan lineages. Here we examine this trait in 1 scyphomedusa and 2 hydromedusae representing different lineages within the Medusozoa with the goal of evaluating whether aborally directed tentacles function similarly among these varied medusae. We analyzed flow generation, swimming kinematics and swimming behavior of Craspedacusta sowerbyi (Hydrozoa, Limnomedusa), Nausithoë punctata (Scyphozoa, Coronata) and Solmissus albescens (Hydrozoa, Narcomedusa), and the prey capture mechanics of N. puncatata. The 3 species swam similarly and generated similar wake structures in comparison to each other and to oblate medusae with trailing tentacles. Foraging behavior, as measured by the percent of time spent swimming, was similar for medusae possessing both leading and trailing tentacle placement. These findings indicate that medusae possessing either type of tentacle placement swim and forage similarly but that medusae with leading tentacles capture prey 'upstream' while medusae with trailing tentacles capture prey 'downstream' of vortices generated at the bell margin during swimming. These differences in tentacle placement relative to flow around the medusae may have important consequences for prey capture and trophic interactions that lead to different prey-selection patterns.

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Section: Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Upstream foraging by medusae

Colin¹,

Costello²,

Kordula³

2006

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…The idea that C. sowerbyi uses stealth predation to capture prey is also supported by prior laboratory incubation studies in which the species has been shown to readily consume copepods along with less reactive, slower prey such as rotifers and cladocerans (Dodson and Cooper, 1983;Spadinger and Maier, 1999;Jankowski et al, 2005). However, prey size versus clearance rate data presented by Dodson and Cooper (1983) demonstrate a trade-off faced by medusae that forage as upstream predators.…”

Section: Flow and Prey Detectionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…For example, Colin et al (2006) reported that the scyphomedusa Nausithoë punctata captured relatively few of the crustacean prey it encountered (adult copepods ϭ 2% and nauplii ϭ 12%). Additionally, small zooplankton may not activate the tentacle's nematocysts (Madin, 1988;Spadinger and Maier, 1999). Consequently, low capture efficiencies can result in clearances rates that are considerably less than theoretical EVRs.…”

Section: Flow and Prey Encountermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our study addresses this issue by examining the fluid interactions in Craspedacusta sowerbyi Lankester 1880, a freshwater, upstream-foraging, rowing hydromedusa (Hydrozoa: Olindiidae). Originating in the Yangtze river system in China, C. sowerbyi has been introduced into small lakes, ponds, and water-filled quarries in North America, Europe, and Asia (Kramp, 1951), where it is known to prey on motile, sensitive zooplankton such as rotifers, copepods, and cladocerans in the 0.2-2-mm size range (Dodson and Cooper, 1983;Spadinger and Maier, 1999;Jankowski et al, 2005). Here, we quantify morphological characteristics, fluid flows around swimming individuals, and estimates of encounter volume rate to evaluate the mechanics of C. sowerbyi's stealth predation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Fluid Interactions That Enable Stealth Predation by the Upstream-Foraging Hydromedusa Craspedacusta sowerbyi

Lucas

Colin²,

Costello³

et al. 2013

The Biological Bulletin

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Abstract. Unlike most medusae that forage with tentacles trailing behind their bells, several species forage upstream of their bells using aborally located tentacles. It has been hypothesized that these medusae forage as stealth predators by placing their tentacles in more quiescent regions of flow around their bells. Consequently, they are able to capture highly mobile, sensitive prey. We used digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to quantitatively characterize the flow field around Craspedacusta sowerbyi, a freshwater upstream-foraging hydromedusa, to evaluate the mechanics of its stealth predation. We found that fluid velocities were minimal in front and along the sides of the bell where the tentacles are located. As a result, the deformation rates in the regions where the tentacles are located were low, below the threshold rates required to elicit an escape response in several species of copepods. Estimates of their encounter volume rates were examined on the basis of flow past the tentacles, and trade-offs associated with tentacle characteristics were evaluated.

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“…Craspedacusta sowerbyi), feed on organisms > 50 µm (e.g. Dodson & Cooper 1983, Dumont 1994, Spadinger & Maier 1999. The hypotheses to be tested were that O. maeotica (1) cause a strong direct effect on zooplankton by removing most of the plankton > 50 µm and (2) cause indirect cascading effects on lower trophic levels, including small zooplankters, phytoplankton and bacteria, as a consequence of the depletion of the large zooplankters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Top-predator effects of jellyfish Odessia maeotica in Mediterranean salt marshes

Compte¹,

Gascón²,

Quintana³

et al. 2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Jellyfish can act as planktonic top predators, and their effects may cause drastic changes in the plankton structure of marine and freshwater systems. However, the top predator effects may not necessarily be the same in species-poor habitats as they are in species-rich habitats. The present study analyses the effects of the small lacunae jellyfish Odessia maeotica in a speciespoor habitat, Mediterranean salt marshes in the wetlands of Empordà (NE Iberian Peninsula). A field experiment was carried out in March 2008 to assess the direct and indirect effects of O. maeotica on plankton composition. Our results show that the presence of O. maeotica changed the plankton composition through top-down effects. Changes were strong in zooplankton, because O. maeotica can suppress almost the entire trophic level of large zooplankton (> 50 µm). Weak indirect effects on phytoplankton composition were observed as well. When O. maeotica was present, changes in the relative abundance of the phytoplankton species were found, but there was no net increase in phytoplankton biomass. Our results suggest that these weak indirect effects may be the result of trophic cascade effects coupled with the oligotrophic conditions of these salt marshes. Thus, trophic cascade effects lead to an increase in ciliate biomass, and these ciliates would feed on small algae (jellyfish-copepods-ciliates-small algae), while oligotrophic conditions would prevent increases in algal biomass.

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Prey selection and diel feeding of the freshwater jellyfish, Craspedacusta sowerbyi

Cited by 57 publications

References 22 publications

Upstream foraging by medusae

Upstream foraging by medusae

Fluid Interactions That Enable Stealth Predation by the Upstream-Foraging Hydromedusa Craspedacusta sowerbyi

Top-predator effects of jellyfish Odessia maeotica in Mediterranean salt marshes

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