Macroscale hydromedusa abundance patterns in the temperate Southwestern Atlantic (27° - 56° S)

DUTTO, M. S.; CHAZARRETA, J.; RODRÍGUEZ, C.; SCHIARITI, A.; DÍAZ BRIZ, L.; GENZANO, G. N.

PLOS ONE

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Lugar: San Francisco; Año: 2019

1932-6203

Gelatinousorganisms are crucial components of marine ecosystems and some species implysocial and economic consequences. However, certain geographic areas, such asthe temperate Southwestern Atlantic (SWA, 27° - 56° S), remain understudied interms of jellyfish ecological data. We analyzed 3,727 plankton samplescollected along ~6.7 million km2 over a 31-year period (1983-2014) to determine theoccurrence, abundance, and diversity of hydromedusa patterns in the SWA.Analyses were made at both community and species levels. Two hotspots inhydromedusa abundance were identified, where values up to 2,480 ind. m-3were recorded between 2003 and 2014. Liriopetetraphylla and Obelia spp. werethe main responsible for recurrent peaks. Diversity indexes were consideredhigh when compared with the ones of temperate areas worldwide. The communityanalysis yielded 10 groups following previously determined biogeographicschemes throughout the study area. This work enhancesthe knowledge of hydromedusae in the SWA and provides essential information aboutthe current global warming context and the gelatinous zooplankton datanecessity.