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Direct and indirect trophic interactions of Aurelia sp. (Scyphozoa) in a stratified marine environment (Mljet Lakes, Adriatic Sea)

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Abstract

The pattern of diel vertical migration and the trophic interactions of moon jelly (Aurelia sp.) were investigated in the sea lakes of Mljet Island (Adriatic Sea) where this scyphomedusa is present throughout the year. Water column characteristics, plankton and in situ behaviour of Aurelia were followed over several 24-h cycles (6–8 times during each cycle) from the surface to the bottom (44 m). Aurelia exhibited a consistent pattern of diel vertical migration. Most of the time Aurelia were located at the bottom of the thermocline layer at temperatures lower than 19°C. Aurelia migrated towards the surface at dusk when the majority was found within the thermocline or just above it. During the night the medusae sank into the deepest layers below 25 m. The main medusa food items inferred from stomach contents were small adult copepods like Oithona nana and Paracalanus parvus and copepodites of small calanoids and cyclopids. In addition, in situ feeding experiments indicated high clearance rates for nauplii and naked ciliates and clear response of bacterial populations pointing to indirect cascade effects of Aurelia on microbial in addition to classical food web.

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Acknowledgments

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the R Slovenia, the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the R Croatia funded this work. We also acknowledge the support of the US National Science Foundation (OCE-0116236). The authors thank J. Costello for his constructive criticism on the manuscript. We appreciate the valuable suggestions made by anonymous reviewers. We are grateful to the Mljet National Park authorities for the hospitality during field work, thanks also go to J. Forte, F. Kravos, T. Makovec, Č. Miloš, V. Onofri for their help in field work.

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  1. Marine Biological Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornace 41, 6330, Piran, Slovenia

    A. Malej & V. Turk

  2. Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, D. Jude 12, 20001, Dubrovnik, Croatia

    D. Lučić & A. Benović

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  1. A. Malej
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  2. V. Turk
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  3. D. Lučić
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Correspondence to A. Malej.

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Communicated by R. Cattaneo-Vietti, Genova.

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Malej, A., Turk, V., Lučić, D. et al. Direct and indirect trophic interactions of Aurelia sp. (Scyphozoa) in a stratified marine environment (Mljet Lakes, Adriatic Sea). Mar Biol 151, 827–841 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0503-1

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