Intraguild predation between the native North Sea jellyfish Cyanea capillata and the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi

Abstract

Native predators may be important in controlling populations of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. We experimentally quantified predation rates of the scyphozoan Cyanea capillata on M. leidyi. Cyanea capillata with 74.8 ± 13.3 mm diameter feeding on 28.7 ± 5.5 mm (total length) M. leidyi in 380 L experimental containers had a maximum clearance rate of 40 ± 11 L ind.−1 h−1 (AV ± SD). Ingestion rate increased linearly through the observed range of prey concentrations (5.3–42.1 m−3). Over 90% of encounters ended in escape, but the escaping M. leidyi suffered damage in the process.