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Complete carbon and nitrogen budgets for the hydromedusaCladonema californicum (Anthomedusa: Cladonemidae)

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Abstract

Complete carbon and nitrogen budgets were constructed for a single cohort of the hydromedusaCladonema californicum Hyman, 1947, collected in 1984 from Santa Catalina Island, California, USA. The budgets accounted for 62 to 84% (average = 74%) of ingested C and 60 to 108% (average = 84%) of ingested N. During most of the medusan life cycle, expenditures for growth exceeded those for metabolism and dissolved organic release (DOR). The gross growth efficiency was lower for C than for N; different conversion rates of C and N are discussed in terms of C:N ratios and budget balances for predator and prey. Growth rates, egg production, and C and N composition ofC. californicum were quite different from those of neritic ctenophores, indicating that gelatinous predators may be a physiologically diverse group.

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Communicated by J. Grassle, New Brunswick

Please address all correspondence and requests for reprints to Dr Costello at his present address: Biology Department, Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island 02918-0001, USA

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Costello, J. Complete carbon and nitrogen budgets for the hydromedusaCladonema californicum (Anthomedusa: Cladonemidae). Mar. Biol. 108, 119–128 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01313479

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