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Potter B, Corrales-Ugalde M, Townsend JP, Colin SP, Sutherland KR, Costello JH, Collins R, Gemmell BJ. Quantifying the feeding behavior and trophic impact of a widespread oceanic ctenophore. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2292. [PMID: 36759558 PMCID: PMC9911642 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27955-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Oceanic ctenophores are widespread predators on pelagic zooplankton. While data on coastal ctenophores often show strong top-down predatory impacts in their ecosystems, differing morphologies, prey capture mechanisms and behaviors of oceanic species preclude the use of coastal data to draw conclusion on oceanic species. We used high-resolution imaging methods both in situ and in the laboratory to quantify interactions of Ocyropsis spp. with natural copepod prey. We confirmed that Ocyropsis spp. uses muscular lobe contraction and a prehensile mouth to capture prey, which is unique amongst ctenophores. This feeding mechanism results in high overall capture success whether encountering single or multiple prey between the lobes (71 and 81% respectively). However, multiple prey require several attempts for successful capture whereas single prey are often captured on the first attempt. Digestion of adult copepods takes 44 min at 25 °C and does not vary with ctenophore size. At high natural densities, we estimate that Ocyropsis spp. consume up to 40% of the daily copepod standing stock. This suggests that, when numerous, Ocyropsis spp. can exert strong top-down control on oceanic copepod populations. At more common densities, these animals consume only a small proportion of the daily copepod standing stock. However, compared to data from pelagic fishes and oceanic medusae, Ocyropsis spp. appears to be the dominant copepod predator in this habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsy Potter
- Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Marco Corrales-Ugalde
- Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | | | - Sean P Colin
- Marine Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI, USA
| | - Kelly R Sutherland
- Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | | | | | - Brad J Gemmell
- Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Kiko R, Kramer M, Spindler M, Wägele H. Tergipes antarcticus (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia): distribution, life cycle, morphology, anatomy and adaptation of the first mollusc known to live in Antarctic sea ice. Polar Biol 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-008-0478-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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