Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC12 Trophic Dynamic Studies

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Sullivan, L, J, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, USA, lsullivan@gso.uri.edu

Gifford, D, J, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, USA, dgifford@gso.uri.edu

Sullivan, B, K, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, USA, bsullivan@gso.uri.edu

FEEDING BY THE LARVAL CTENOPHORE, MNEMIOPSIS LEIDYI, ON MICROZOOPLANKTON

The ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi, is an important planktonic predator in Narragansett Bay, where it has been implicated in the regulation of summer zooplankton and phytoplankton dynamics. Understanding the processes that occur during larval development to limit or enhance larval survival may be a key to understanding what initiates and sustains ctenophore blooms. M. leidyi larvae have not been well studied, and little is known concerning the importance of microzooplankton in their diet. Grazing rates of larval M. leidyi on microzooplankton were measured in feeding experiments using natural prey assemblages. Clearance rates for dinoflagellate and ciliate prey were high, on the order of 26-57 ml/ individual/h. Clearance rates increased with larval size, as did apparent selection of prey.

This Session Listing

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks