Spatiotemporal distribution ofprotozooplankton and copepod nauplii in relation to the occurrence of giant jellyfish in the Yellow Sea
The occurrence of the giant jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, has been a frequent phenomenon in the Yellow Sea. However, the relationship between the giant jellyfish and protozoa, in particular ciliates, remains largely unknown. We investigated the distribution of nanoflagellates, ciliates, Noctiluca s...
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| Published in | 中国海洋湖沼学报：英文版 no. 6; pp. 1226 - 1240 |
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| Main Author | |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
2013
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| Subjects | |
| Online Access | Get full text |
| ISSN | 0254-4059 1993-5005 |
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| Summary: | The occurrence of the giant jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, has been a frequent phenomenon in the Yellow Sea. However, the relationship between the giant jellyfish and protozoa, in particular ciliates, remains largely unknown. We investigated the distribution of nanoflagellates, ciliates, Noctiluca scintillans, and copepod nauplii along the transect 33~N in the Yellow Sea in June and August, 2012, during an occurrence of the giant jellyfish, and in October of that year when the jellyfish was absent. The organisms studied were mainly concentrated in the surface waters in summer, while in autumn they were evenly distributed in the water column. Nanoflagellate, ciliate, and copepod nauplii biomasses increased from early June to August along with jellyfish growth, the first two decreased in October, while N. scintillans biomass peaked in early June to 3 571 pg C/L and decreased in August and October. In summer, ciliate biomass greatly exceeded that of copepod nauplii （4.61-15.04 ~tg C/L vs. 0.34-0.89 pg C/L）. Ciliate production was even more important than biomass, ranging from 6.59 to 34.19 ~tg C/（L.d） in summer. Our data suggest a tight and positive association among the nano-, micro-, and meso-zooplankton in the study area. Statistical analysis revealed that the abundance and total production of ciliate as well as loricate ciliate biomass were positively correlated with giant jellyfish biomass, indicating a possible predator-prey relationship between ciliates and giant jellyfish. This is in contrast to a previous study, which reported a significant reduction in ciliate standing crops due to the mass occurrence ofN. nomurai in summer. Our study indicates that, with its high biomass and, in particular, high production ciliates might support the mass occurrence of giant jellyfish. |
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| Bibliography: | Nemopilema nomurai; nanoflagellates; ciliates; Noctiluca scintillans 37-1150/P The occurrence of the giant jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, has been a frequent phenomenon in the Yellow Sea. However, the relationship between the giant jellyfish and protozoa, in particular ciliates, remains largely unknown. We investigated the distribution of nanoflagellates, ciliates, Noctiluca scintillans, and copepod nauplii along the transect 33~N in the Yellow Sea in June and August, 2012, during an occurrence of the giant jellyfish, and in October of that year when the jellyfish was absent. The organisms studied were mainly concentrated in the surface waters in summer, while in autumn they were evenly distributed in the water column. Nanoflagellate, ciliate, and copepod nauplii biomasses increased from early June to August along with jellyfish growth, the first two decreased in October, while N. scintillans biomass peaked in early June to 3 571 pg C/L and decreased in August and October. In summer, ciliate biomass greatly exceeded that of copepod nauplii （4.61-15.04 ~tg C/L vs. 0.34-0.89 pg C/L）. Ciliate production was even more important than biomass, ranging from 6.59 to 34.19 ~tg C/（L.d） in summer. Our data suggest a tight and positive association among the nano-, micro-, and meso-zooplankton in the study area. Statistical analysis revealed that the abundance and total production of ciliate as well as loricate ciliate biomass were positively correlated with giant jellyfish biomass, indicating a possible predator-prey relationship between ciliates and giant jellyfish. This is in contrast to a previous study, which reported a significant reduction in ciliate standing crops due to the mass occurrence ofN. nomurai in summer. Our study indicates that, with its high biomass and, in particular, high production ciliates might support the mass occurrence of giant jellyfish. WANG Lu , XU Kuidong Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China 2 University of ChineseAeademy of Sciences Beijing 100049, China |
| ISSN: | 0254-4059 1993-5005 |