INVESTIGATION OF MNEMIOPSIS LEIDYI FEEDING FROM THE CASPIAN SEA ZOOPLANKTONS

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Mnemiopsis leidyi was sampled from December 2003 to March 2005 in 11 stations located along four regions AnzaH, Khazarabad, Tourkman and Gorgan Bay using METU net in the Iranian coasts of the Caspian Sea. Study of stomach contents of Mnemiopsis leidyi showed that Acartia sp. belonging to Copepoda and Lamellibranchia sp. had the highest frequency comprising 66% and 13% of food items taken by the organism respectively and the least food items taken were Balanus nauplii, Rotatoria, Tintinnopsis and Podon polyphemoides. The maximum mean abundance of food item was Acartia sp. which was shown to be present in stomach content of Mnemiopsis leidyi caught in different depths, seasons and regions in the Iranian coasts of the Caspian Sea. For the M leidyi larvae, the highest amount of food item was Acartia sp. and Lamellibranchia sp. with an average of 44% and 32% and the maximum abundance of food item for juvenile and mature Mnemiopsis leidyi was also Acartia sp. with an average of 67.5% and 66%. The results showed that the main food item for Mnemiopsis leidyi is Acartia sp. of the Copepoda. Hence, Mnemiopsis leidyi feeding has an important effect in declining zooplankton populations.

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Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal
Volume 17, Issue 3
January and February 2008
Pages 35-46

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