Population ecology of Muggiaea atlantica (Cnidaria, Siphonophora) in the Western English Channel

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 535:129-144 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11423 Population ecology of Muggiaea atlantica (Cnidaria, Siphonophora) in the Western English Channel Michael Blackett1,3,*, Cathy H. Lucas1, Rachel A. Harmer2, Priscilla Licandro3 1Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK 2Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK 3Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK *Corresponding author: mb10g11@noc.soton.ac.uk ABSTRACT: Recent observations suggest that the siphonophore Muggiaea atlantica is expanding its geographical distribution. The mechanisms behind this expansion remain unclear due to our limited knowledge of the species’ ecology. We modelled the functional relationship between the 2 main life-cycle stages of M. atlantica over a 5 yr period (2009-2013) in the Western English Channel. Our aims were to determine the key features of the species’ population dynamics and the influence of local environmental conditions on its population development. Our results highlighted a strong coupling between the timing of specific environmental conditions and the development of the M. atlantica population, thereby explaining interannual differences in the phenology of its blooms. Population development commenced with the initiation of eudoxid production by the overwintering polygastric stages. This reproductive event was linked to the onset of a spring temperature threshold, suggesting a critical basal limit of 10°C for eudoxid production. Interannual variability in the timing of this threshold modulated the degree of mismatch between the developing M. atlantica population and the availability of copepod prey. Unusually cold conditions in the spring of 2010 and 2013 limited the capacity for M. atlantica to initiate eudoxid production leading to poor trophic phasing and the production of single autumn cohorts. In contrast, warmer conditions during spring 2009, 2011, and 2012 facilitated earlier population development, optimal trophic phasing and the production of both summer and autumn cohorts. These findings represent an important addition to our understanding of the ecology of M. atlantica in the Northeast Atlantic. KEY WORDS: Muggiaea atlantica · Jellyfish · Population dynamics · Population ecology · Phenology · Phenological shift · Trophic mismatch Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Blackett M, Lucas CH, Harmer RA, Licandro P (2015) Population ecology of Muggiaea atlantica (Cnidaria, Siphonophora) in the Western English Channel. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 535:129-144. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11423 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 535. Online publication date: September 15, 2015 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2015 Inter-Research.