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

Blackett, Michael; Lucas, Cathy H.; Harmer, Rachel A.; Licandro, Priscilla

doi:10.3354/meps11423

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Although M. atlantica is a widely distributed species in warm and cold temperate waters (Alvariño, 1971; Mapstone, 2014) and is probably the best-studied siphonophore (Thibault-Botha et al , 2004; Batistić et al , 2013; Blackett et al , 2014, 2015), our data indicate that M. atlantica can be found in temperatures up to 28.6 °C, far beyond the upper critical limit (24 °C) proposed by Batistić et al (2013). This could suggest some form of local population adaptation, perhaps with regard to eudoxid production.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sanvicente-Añorve et al (2007) investigated siphonophores in coastal waters of the Caribbean and extended the salinity tolerance of D. bojani , E. mitra , D. dispar and M. atlantica down to 30.7, but there was no water below this salinity in their study. Blackett et al (2015) further extended the salinity tolerance of M. atlantica down to 28.5. We found C. contorta , D. bojani and E. mitra down to a salinity of ~27.5, and D. dispar and M. atlantica down to 24.7.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Siphonophores from surface waters of the Colombian Pacific Ocean

et al. 2018

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Siphonophores are colonial hydrozoans that feed on zooplankton including fish larvae, and occur throughout the world's oceans from surface waters to ocean depths. Here we describe the composition of hyponeustonic siphonophores (0–3 m depth) from the tropical Colombian Pacific Ocean based on 131 plankton samples collected between June–October from 2001–2004. Samples were dominated by species of Calycophorae, with only three species of Physonectae identified, consistent with their deeper depth distribution. Muggiaea atlantica, Chelophyes contorta, Diphyes dispar, and Eudoxoides mitra were the most common of the 21 species identified. We found moderate structuring of the siphonophore community by the salinity gradient from inshore to offshore, and greater richness during the night because of diel vertical migration. Temperature did not play a significant role in structuring siphonophore communities, perhaps because of the narrow temperature range observed (3.5 °C). We extend the known temperature and salinity range of several species, including M. atlantica up to temperatures of 28.6 °C and salinities down to 24.7. Interestingly, only polygastric stages of M. atlantica were found, suggesting the reproductive stage of M. atlantica in tropical waters might be found in deeper waters. Chelophyes appendiculata was rare in our study and C. contorta was common, providing evidence they have a potential allopatric relationship, with C. contorta replacing C. appendiculata in warm water. Finally, we found siphonophore abundance was positively related to the abundance of copepods and fish eggs, with the top 13 most abundant species all having positive correlations, suggesting siphonophore abundances are tightly controlled by their food.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Siphonophores from surface waters of the Colombian Pacific Ocean

et al. 2018

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“…Beside this, in the south extreme of PFE, in the Magellan Region (52–56°S), the highest densities of eudoxids of M. atlantica occur in the Almirantazgo Sound, where the superficial temperature is <7°C (Palma & Aravena, 2001; Valdenegro & Silva, 2003). In this sense, recently Blackett et al (2015) found that the populations of M. atlantica appear to have a temperature threshold of 10°C for the eudoxid production in the western English Channel. This ratio is generally the inverse in spring among dominant species, as observed with L. conoidea and D. arctica in the present study, and as shown by other results obtained in the PFE (Palma & Silva, 2004; Palma et al , 2007a, 2014a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Siphonophores in fjords and channels in southern Patagonia: biodiversity, spatial distribution and environmental association

et al. 2016

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This study characterizes the abundance and spatial distribution of siphonophores between the Trinidad Channel (50°06′S) and the Strait of Magellan (52°45′S) in southern Chile, during October–November 2009. Ten species were identified, of which Agalma elegans, Rosacea plicata and Sphaeronectes fragilis are new records for this region. Dominant species showed similar dominance values e.g. Lensia conoidea (26.3%), Dimophyes arctica (24.6%), Lensia meteori (22.2%) and Muggiaea atlantica (20.7%). Eudoxids of L. conoidea and D. arctica represented 97.3% of all eudoxids collected and they were mainly collected in estuarine waters. The highest densities were found in estuarine waters (high vertical stratification and low temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen values). On the other hand, the lowest densities were found in coastal areas influenced by permanent influx of Sub-Antarctic waters from the Pacific (greater instability and vertical mixing, higher temperatures, salinity and dissolved oxygen values). Temperature and dissolved oxygen were the most important environmental variables. In general, all the dominant species showed a positive association with temperature and a negative association with dissolved oxygen (with the exception of L. meteori). The vertical distribution showed that M. atlantica was mainly distributed in the first 50 m, in association with estuarine waters, while L. conoidea, L. meteori and D. arctica were mainly found in the deeper layer (50–200 m) and in association with modified Sub-Antarctic waters. The comparison of the results obtained in the springs of 1996 and 2009 showed a significant increase in abundance.

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“…These may play a significant role in the population dynamics of this species. For example, a minimum of 10°C is required for successful proliferation of the siphonophore Muggiaea atlantica in the English Channel (Blackett et al 2015), and Dipleurosoma bloom formation may be driven by a similar temperature threshold. A bloom of Rathkea octopunctata occurred in nearby Porsangerfjord (see Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%