Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS24 The Ecology of Pelagic Gelatinous Zooplankton

Date: Monday, February 12, 2001, Time: 2:30:00 PM

Location: Acoma/Zuni/Tesuque

Flood, P, R, Bathybiologica A/S, Bergen, Norway, per.r.flood@bathybiologica.no

EURAPP: THE IMPACT OF APPENDICULARIA IN EUROPEAN MARINE ECOSYSTEMS. A FIRST INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH EFFORT ON APPENDICULARIA

Experts from 5 European countries have joined forces to elucidate the importance of Appendicularia (pelagic Tunicates) in marine ecosystems. This planktonic family is second in abundance only to copepods and constitutes an understudied group, probably mostly due to their extreme fragility. The appendicularia are widespread and highly efficient filter feeders with an extreme growth potential, short generation time and high fecundity. Their nutritional value is high and they represent a crucial prey for among others flatfish larvae. Through their unique external filter houses the Appendicularia graze efficiently on suspended particles down to 0,2um in diameter and probably as well on the high molecular weight fraction of dissolved organic carbon. Their abandoned filterhouses and their frequently released and rapidly sinking fecal pellets play an important role in the vertical flux of organic carbon. The EURAPP project is now in its third and final year and our results will be summarized in an expert meeting this authumn.

This Session Listing

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks