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The broad-scale distribution of five jellyfish species across a temperate coastal environment
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posted on 2007-03-01, 00:00 authored by T Doyle, J Houghton, S Buckley, Graeme HaysGraeme Hays, J DavenportJellyfish (medusae) are sometimes the most noticeable and abundant members of coastal planktonic communities, yet ironically, this high conspicuousness is not reflected in our overall understanding of their spatial distributions across large expanses of water. Here, we set out to elucidate the spatial (and temporal) patterns for five jellyfish species (Phylum Cnidaria, Orders Rhizostomeae and Semaeostomeae) across the Irish & Celtic Seas, an extensive shelf-sea area at Europe’s northwesterly margin encompassing several thousand square kilometers. Data were gathered using two independent methods: (1) surface-counts of jellyfish from ships of opportunity, and (2) regular shoreline surveys for stranding events over three consecutive years. Jellyfish species displayed distinct species-specific distributions, with an apparent segregation of some species. Furthermore, a different species composition was noticeable between the northern and southern parts of the study area. Most importantly, our data suggests that jellyfish distributions broadly reflect the major hydrographic regimes (and associated physical discontinuities) of the study area, with mixed water masses possibly acting as a trophic barrier or non-favourable environment for the successful growth and reproduction of jellyfish species.
History
Journal
HydrobiologiaVolume
579Issue
1Pagination
29 - 39Publisher
SpringerLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0018-8158eISSN
1573-5117Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2007, SpringerUsage metrics
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