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Degradation of the Adriatic medusa Aurelia sp. by ambient bacteria

  • Jellyfish Blooms
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Jellyfish Blooms: New Problems and Solutions

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology 212 ((DIHY,volume 212))

Abstract

The decomposition of jellyfish after major bloom events results in the release of large amounts of nutrients, which can significantly alter nutrient and oxygen dynamics in the surrounding environment. The response of the ambient bacterial community to decomposing jellyfish biomass was evaluated in two marine ecosystems, the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) and Big Lake (Mljet Island, southern Adriatic Sea). The major difference between these two ecosystems is that Aurelia sp. medusae occur throughout the year in the oligotrophic Big Lake, whereas in the mesotrophic Gulf of Trieste, they occur only seasonally and often as blooms. Addition of homogenized jellyfish to enclosed bottles containing ambient water from each of these systems triggered considerable changes in the bacterial community dynamics and in the nutrient regime. The high concentrations of protein, dissolved organic phosphorous (DOP), and PO4 3− immediately after homogenate addition stimulated increase in bacterial abundance and production rate, coupled with NH4 + accumulation in both ecosystems. Our preliminary results of the bacterial community structure, as determined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, indicated differences in the bacterial community response between the two ecosystems. Despite divergence in the bacterial community responses to jellyfish homogenate, increased bacterial biomass and growth rates in both distinctive marine systems indicate potentially significant effects of decaying jellyfish blooms on microbial plankton.

Guest editors: J. E. Purcell & Dror Angel / Jellyfish Blooms: New Problems and Solutions

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Tinkara Tinta, Alenka Malej, Maja Kos & Valentina Turk

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  1. Tinkara Tinta
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  2. Alenka Malej
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  3. Maja Kos
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  4. Valentina Turk
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Correspondence to Valentina Turk .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Shannon Point Marine Center, Western Washington University, 1900 Shannon Point Rd, 98221, WA, Anacortes, USA

    Jennifer E. Purcell

  2. Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, University College Cork, Naval Base, Haulbowline Island, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland

    Jennifer E. Purcell

  3. Department of Maritime Civilizations, Leon Recanati Institute of Maritime Studies, Haifa University, 31905, Mt Carmel, Haifa, Israel

    Dror L. Angel

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Tinta, T., Malej, A., Kos, M., Turk, V. (2010). Degradation of the Adriatic medusa Aurelia sp. by ambient bacteria. In: Purcell, J.E., Angel, D.L. (eds) Jellyfish Blooms: New Problems and Solutions. Developments in Hydrobiology 212, vol 212. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9541-1_14

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