Fancett, M.S. & G.P. Jenkins. (1988). Predatory impact of Scyphomedusae of ichthyoplankton and other zooplankton in Port Phillip Bay. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 116(1):63-77.
Predatory impact of Scyphomedusae of ichthyoplankton and other zooplankton in Port Phillip Bay.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
116(1):63-77.
Publication
Available for editors
The clearance rates of prey by the scyphomedusae Pseudorhiza haeckeli Haacke and Cyanea capillata (L.) were independent of prey density and light conditions. Pseudorhiza haeckeli cleared prey at a significantly faster rate than Cyanea capillata for all prey taxa offered. In experiments with Pseudorhiza haeckeli, clearance rate varied with the prey taxa offered; no such variability occurred in clearance rates for Cyanea capillata. The clearance rates for fish eggs and yolk-sac larvae were not significantly different for either predator species. The impact of predation by scyphomedusae averaged over Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, was small, with < 0.4 % of copepods and fish eggs consumed · day-1. Their impact in patches was much greater, with a maximum clearance rate of 1.6% · day-1 of copepods (Paracalanus indicus Wolfenden) and 2.4% · day-1 of fish eggs and larvae by Cyanea capillata, and 4.8% · day-1 of copepods and 3.8 % · day-1 of fish eggs and larvae by Pseudorhiza haeckeli. This clearance rate corresponds to Cyanea capillata removing up to 19.6% and Pseudorhiza haeckeli removing up to 17.6% of fish eggs and yolk-sac larvae over the duration of these stages
