Accession Number:

ADA505861

Title:

Monitoring Bloom Dynamics of a Common Coastal Bioluminescent Ctenophore

Descriptive Note:

Research rept.

Corporate Author:

OCEAN RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION FORT PIERCE FL

Personal Author(s):

• Widder, Edith A.

Report Date:

2008-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

9.0

Abstract:

The long-term objective is to develop predictive models of bioluminescence potential in the coastal zone environment. As naval operations move into coastal waters, the possible impact of sporadic blooms of bioluminescent organisms on clandestine operations is of increasing concern. One such bloomforming light producer is the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. This native-American comb jelly was first introduced into the Black Sea in 1982 where it caused the total collapse of the local fisheries. It has recently broken out into the Mediterranean Sea and there is concern that it may continue to spread. Also, there is evidence that blooms within its native range are increasing and producing profound impacts on coastal ecosystems. Although the causes of jellyfish blooms are not well understood, correlations have been made between changes in jellyfish density and changes in physical factors, such as temperature and salinity, and biological factors, such as prey abundance and predation. Developing a meaningful predictive model with these multiple variables depends on a large sample size. Current sampling methods for jellyfish populations are done with net collections by hand at stations weekly, monthly, or seasonally. These time scales severely limit our knowledge of changes in Mnemiopsis sp. abundance. Bloom events may not coincide with sample collection days, but during the gaps between samples, limiting the utility of data and its relation to physical and biological variables. Our objective is to greatly reduce sampling intervals and greatly expand the spatial coverage of data collected by removing the requirement for hand sampling and automating all aspects of the data collection process.

Descriptors:

• *PLANKTON BLOOMS
• *COELENTERATA
• *BIOLUMINESCENCE
• *MARINE BIOLOGY
• *COASTAL REGIONS
• *OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA
• *MONITORING
• DYNAMICS
• PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• WATER
• POPULATION
• TIME
• VARIABLES
• SCALE
• SAMPLING
• DATA ACQUISITION
• NAVAL OPERATIONS
• ECOSYSTEMS
• MEDITERRANEAN SEA
• SALINITY
• FISHERIES
• AQUATIC ORGANISMS
• OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS
• COLLECTION
• HANDS
• OCEANOGRAPHY
• ZOOPLANKTON
• INTERVALS
• BLACK SEA
• MODELS
• BIOLOGY
• PREDICTIONS
• IMPACT
• ENVIRONMENTS
• METHODOLOGY
• SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
• DENSITY

Subject Categories:

• Biological Oceanography
• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
• Marine Engineering
• Naval Surface Warfare
• Undersea and Antisubmarine Warfare

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE