Contrasting distributional patterns of two co-occurring ctenophores in relation to ichthyoplankton and environmental features in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

SOBRERO, L; CHIAVERANO, LM; MACHINANDIARENA, L; MARTOS, P; DERISIO, C; GIBERTO, D; BETTI, P; LEONARDUZZI, E; MACCHI, G; SCHIARITI, A

MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES

INTER-RESEARCH

Año: 2023 vol. 713 p. 55 - 70

0171-8630

ABSTRACT: Assessing the ecological role of ctenophores is crucial to understanding ecosystemfunctioning, including the recruitment of fish stocks. During austral summer in the North PatagoniaEcosystem (NPE) (41−48° S), the ctenophores Mnemiopsis leidyi and Pleurobrachia pileus cooccurwith the peak of ichthyoplankton abundance of 2 important fishing resources: the Argentineanchovy Engraulis anchoita and the Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi, in association with ahighly productive tidal front system. We analyzed 367 plankton samples collected in the NPE over13 yr (2005−2018) to determine the abundance and spatial distribution of M. leidyi and P. pileus,their spatial overlap with ichthyoplankton (eggs and larvae of hake and anchovy), and their relationship with environmental features. Both ctenophore species displayed contrasting distributional patterns, associated with different physical environments, particularly temperature. M. leidyi showed a higher spatial overlap with ichthyoplankton compared to P. pileus. In addition, we found a significant negative correlation between the biomass of M. leidyi and the abundance of both fish larvae, suggesting a potential negative impact (via predation and competition) on thesurvival and recruitment of these 2 fisheries resources.