Distribution of Pelagia noctiluca (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea)

• Published in: Journal of plankton research Vol. 34; no. 10; pp. 874 - 885
• Main Authors: FERRARIS, M, BERLINE, L, LOMBARD, F, GUIDI, L, ELINEAU, A, MENDOZA-VERA, J. M, LILLEY, M. K. S, TAILLANDIER, V, GORSKYL, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.10.2012; Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biodiversity and Ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cnidaria; Cnidaria. Ctenaria; Environmental Sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Invertebrates; Marine; Noctiluca; Ocean, Atmosphere; Pelagia noctiluca; Sciences of the Universe; Scyphozoa; Synecology; Mediterranean Sea; Ligurian Sea; MED, Ligurian Sea; MED, France, Lion Gulf, Northern Current; MED, Western Mediterranean; MED; Marine environment; Coelenterata; Plankton; Invertebrata; Pelagia noctiluca; Cnidaria; Jellyfish
• ISSN: 0142-7873; 1464-3774
• DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbs049

The scyphozoan Pelagia noctiluca reproduces by direct development without a benthic stage. Typically, this jellyfish is found offshore with a holoplanktonic lifecycle, vertical migration and feeding behaviours. Frequent outbreaks have been well documented on the Mediterranean shores since the 19th century; however, the offshore distribution of this species remains mostly unknown. In this study, we performed a bimonthly monitoring of P. noctiluca surface density, at high resolution, from a sailboat, along a 35-km coastal to offshore transect in the Ligurian Sea, between February and October 2011. During daylight, P. noctiluca was rarely seen. At night, offshore, P. noctiluca was always present, while within 5 km of the coast, P. noctiluca was rarely observed. Pelagia noctiluca aggregations were most abundant within the Northern Current of the Ligurian Sea. Our findings suggest that P. noctiluca outbreaks observed on Mediterranean shores may result from the transport of the permanent offshore population inshore by specific hydrodynamic conditions.