Publication Abstract
- Title
-
Distribution and abundance of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Eastern English Channel – North Sea region
- Publication Abstract
-
Distribution and abundance of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Eastern English Channel – North Sea region
L. van Walraven, L. Vansteenbrugge, E. Antajan, M. Travers-Trolet, D. Vincent, T. Raud, V. Cornille, J.-M. Brylinski, S. Pitois*, K. Hostens, S. Vandendriessche, D. Vuylsteke
The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi is an invasive species in northern European waters since 2005. Quantitative information on this species such as density, biomass and seasonal patterns remains scarce for these waters, which limits a better understanding of its dynamics and potential spread. We present a summary of the distribution and abundance of M. leidyi in the English Channel - North Sea region. Data were collected on different surveys carried out within the InterReg IVa-MEMO project .
In summer and autumn very high M. leidyi densities (up to 100 ind m-3) were measured in the Dutch estuaries of Lake Grevelingen, the eastern- and western Scheldt and in several harbours along the Belgian coast. Considerable large densities were also recorded at several ports along the Belgian coast (17 ind m-3), however far lower densities (<1 ind. m-3) were observed at the Dutch and Belgian nearshore stations. M. leidyi was not found further than 20 nm off southern Dutch and Belgian shores. Few individuals were collected along the French coasts (Dunkerque – Boulogne-sur-mer). However, M. leidyi has not been recorded along the UK coast yet. In winter the species was still present in Dutch and Belgian waters at low densities (<1 ind m-3), suggesting that it overwinters there, making the region a possible source of M. leidyi for more Northern areas. In estuaries in summer and autumn, M. leidyi competition with other zooplanktivores such as fish larvae and other gelatinous predators is likely to be high
- Publication Internet Address of the Data
- Publication Authors
-
L. van Walraven, L. Vansteenbrugge, E. Antajan, M. Travers-Trolet, D. Vincent, T. Raud, V. Cornille, J.-M. Brylinski, S. Pitois*, K. Hostens, S. Vandendriessche, D. Vuylsteke
- Publication Date
- June 2013
- Publication Reference
- Publication DOI: https://doi.org/
