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Aspects of the ecology of Mnemiopsis mccradyi Mayer in North Lake Worth, Florida

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Date Issued:
1996
Summary:
The abundance, biomass, and size class composition of Mnemiopsis mccradyi were monitored weekly from March 1994 to May 1995. Relationships between M. mccradyi abundance and several environmental variables were investigated, including water temperature, salinity, rainfall, density of specific M. mccradyi prey, and abundance of the predatory ctenophore Beroe ovata. The mean abundance from September to May was 14.8 ctenophores/m^3, while the mean from May to September was 0.3 ctenophores/m^3. Temperature observations indicated 26C (Sept-May) as optimal for population abundance, and 29-32C (May-Sept) as a possible upper temperature limit to larval development. Adults ctenophores dominated the population from May to September, while larvae and juveniles increased in number and biomass during the period of highest abundance. These results revealed two distinct seasons of M. mccradyi abundance based on ambient water temperature, and indicated that the dynamics of this population are attuned to the environmental conditions of a southern Florida estuary.
Title: Aspects of the ecology of Mnemiopsis mccradyi Mayer in North Lake Worth, Florida.
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Name(s): Segerblom, Kevin Lee.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Marsh, G. Alex, Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1996
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 50 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The abundance, biomass, and size class composition of Mnemiopsis mccradyi were monitored weekly from March 1994 to May 1995. Relationships between M. mccradyi abundance and several environmental variables were investigated, including water temperature, salinity, rainfall, density of specific M. mccradyi prey, and abundance of the predatory ctenophore Beroe ovata. The mean abundance from September to May was 14.8 ctenophores/m^3, while the mean from May to September was 0.3 ctenophores/m^3. Temperature observations indicated 26C (Sept-May) as optimal for population abundance, and 29-32C (May-Sept) as a possible upper temperature limit to larval development. Adults ctenophores dominated the population from May to September, while larvae and juveniles increased in number and biomass during the period of highest abundance. These results revealed two distinct seasons of M. mccradyi abundance based on ambient water temperature, and indicated that the dynamics of this population are attuned to the environmental conditions of a southern Florida estuary.
Identifier: 15238 (digitool), FADT15238 (IID), fau:12009 (fedora)
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1996.
Subject(s): Mnemiopsis
Ctenophora
Marine invertebrates--Ecology
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15238
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.