Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Baltic Sea: distribution and overwintering between autumn 2006 and spring 2007
Kube, S.; Postel, L.; Honnef, C.; Augustin, C.B (2007). Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Baltic Sea: distribution and overwintering between autumn 2006 and spring 2007. Aquat. Invasions 2(2): 137-145. dx.doi.org/10.3391/ai.2007.2.2.9
In: Aquatic Invasions. Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre (REABIC): Helsinki. ISSN 1798-6540; e-ISSN 1818-5487, more
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| Keywords |
Taxa > Species > Introduced species
Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz, 1865 [WoRMS]
ANE, Baltic [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Kube, S.
- Postel, L.
- Honnef, C.
- Augustin, C.B
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| Abstract |
In autumn 2006 the first observations of the West Atlantic comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi in Northern Europe were reported from the North Sea, the Skagerrak and the south-western Baltic Sea. Here we report on the further spread of this invasive ctenophore from the south-western towards the central Baltic Sea up to the south eastern Gotland Basin during autumn/winter 2006 and spring 2007. The abundances were generally low (max. 4 ind. m-3). While M. leidyi was located in the entire water column in Kiel Bight, it was found exceptionally below the halocline in the deep stratified central Baltic basins. Data of a weekly sampling program at a near shore sampling location in Mecklenburg Bight between January and May 2007 showed that up to 80 % of the individuals were juveniles, smaller than 1 mm total body length and that M. leidyi survived the winter in the Southern Baltic Sea, even if abundances dropped down to <1 ind. m-3 in February. A first assessment of the physiological demands of this species versus the environmental conditions of the Baltic Sea showed that the successful establishment of this ctenophore is probable in the south-western and central Baltic Sea. |
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