Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS37 Zooplankton

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 10:45:00 AM

Location: Aztec

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

Van Keuren, D, , University of Rhode Island, Narragansett , USA, dvankeur@gso.uri.edu

ZOOPLANKTON RESPONSE TO SPRING INVASION OF NARRAGANSETT BAY BY THE CTENOPHORE MNEMIOPSIS LEIDYI

The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi is normally prevalent in late summer and fall in estuaries at the northern limit of its distribution. We have documented early spring appearances in Narragansett Bay, RI that correlate with a climatic warming trend. Conditions in spring must favor high reproduction and survival because peak abundance has also increased. We predict that this predator will have greater top-down control on the ecosystem than previously because of exceptional population size and extended seasonal appearance. In fact, during spring and summer 2000 zooplankton abundance plummeted and the normally dominant copepod species disappeared entirely from the water column for at least three weeks. While this response was predictable based on existing knowledge of ctenophore filtering rates and the high abundance of ctenophores, it clearly demonstrates the potential of seasonal as well as geographic invasions to disrupt ecosystems. This seasonal invasion also provides an important opportunity to advance our understanding of factors controlling ctenophore population initiation and maintenance.

This Session Listing

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks