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1. High prey capture efficiencies of oceanic epipelagic lobate and cestid ctenophores

   https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbae044  

   Child, Taylor; Costello, John H; Gemmell, Brad J; Sutherland, Kelly R; Colin, Sean P (September 2024, Journal of Plankton Research)

   Koski, Marja (Ed.)

   Abstract Ctenophores are numerically dominant members of oceanic epipelagic communities around the world. The ctenophore community is often comprised of several common, co-occurring lobate and cestid genera. Previous quantifications of the amount of fluid that lobate ctenophores entrain in their feeding currents revealed that oceanic lobates have the potential for high feeding rates. In order to more directly examine the trophic role of oceanic lobate ctenophores, we quantified the encounter and retention efficiencies of several co-occurring species (Bolinopsis vitrea, Ocyropsis crystallina, Eurhamphea vexilligera and Cestum veneris) in their natural environments. Encounters and predator–prey interactions were video recorded in the field using specialized cameras and SCUBA techniques. The lobate species encountered, on average, 2.4 prey per minute and ingested 40% of these prey. This translated to an estimated ingestion rate of close to 1 prey per minute. Cestum veneris and most of the lobate species retained prey as efficiently as the voracious coastal lobate predator Mnemiopsis leidyi, suggesting that these oceanic species have a similar predation impact in their environments as M. leidyi does in coastal ecosystems. Hence, quantified in situ predatory-prey interactions indicate that epipelagic ctenophores have a significant impact on oceanic ecosystems worldwide. 

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2. Oceanic lobate ctenophores possess feeding mechanics similar to the impactful coastal species Mnemiopsis leidyi

   https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12232  

   Cordeiro, Malaika; Costello, John H.; Gemmell, Brad J.; Sutherland, Kelly R.; Colin, Sean P. (September 2022, Limnology and Oceanography)

   Abstract Lobate ctenophores are often numerically dominant members of oceanic epipelagic and midwater ecosystems. Despite this, little is known about their trophic ecology. Multiple, co‐occurring species are often found in these ecosystems and appear to feed similarly via feeding currents that entrain prey. We quantified the hydrodynamics, morphology, and behavior of four co‐occurring, cosmopolitan lobate species (Eurhamphaea vexilligera,Ocyropsis crystallina,Bolinopsis vitrea, andLeucothea multicornis) to evaluate whether their feeding mechanics lead to differential feeding rates and prey selection. We compared the feeding characteristics of these four oceanic species to the coastal lobate ctenophore,Mnemiopsis leidyi, which is known as a voracious zooplanktivore. We found that despite their morphological diversity, the five lobate species used the same mechanism to generate their feeding current—the hydrodynamics of their feeding currents were similarly laminar and with very low fluid deformation rates. Despite having similar feeding current traits, the species had different in situ swimming behaviors and feeding postures. We show that these different behaviors and postures lead to different prey encounter rates and that several of the oceanic species have the potential to feed at rates similar to or greater thanM. leidyi. As such, the individual and combined trophic impact of oceanic lobate ctenophores is likely to be much greater than previously predicted. 

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3. Drivers of variability of Calanus finmarchicus in the Gulf of Maine: roles of internal production and external exchange

   https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsab147  

   Ji, Rubao; Runge, Jeffrey A; Davis, Cabell S; Wiebe, Peter H (August 2021, ICES Journal of Marine Science)

   Woodson, Brock (Ed.)

   Abstract The lipid-rich calanoid copepod, Calanus finmarchicus, plays a critical role in the Gulf of Maine pelagic food web. Despite numerous studies over the last several decades, a clear picture of variability patterns and links with key environmental drivers remains elusive. This study applies model-based scaling and sensitivity analyses to a regional plankton dataset collected over the last four decades (1977–2017). The focus is to describe the gulf-wide spatio-temporal patterns across three major basins, and to assess the relative roles of internal population dynamics and external exchanges. For the spring stock, there is strong synchrony of interannual variability among three basins. This variability is largely driven by internal population dynamics rather than external exchanges, and the internal population dynamics are more sensitive to the change of top-down mortality regime than the bottom-up forcings. For the fall stock, the synchrony among basins weakens, and the variability is influenced by both internal mortality and external dilution loss. There appears to be no direct connection between the spring stock with either the preceding or subsequent fall stock, suggesting seasonal or sub-seasonal scales of population variability and associated drivers. The results highlight seasonally varying drivers responsible for population variability, including previously less recognized top-down control. 

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4. North Temperate Lakes LTER: Pelagic Prey - Sonar Data 2001 - current

   https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/5eacf039425717bc9bc766962489e184  

   Magnuson, John; Carpenter, Stephen; Stanley, Emily (January 2022, Environmental Data Initiative)

   Total pelagic fish abundance data were collected annually in mid-summer using sonar along a set of transects in each of eight lakes (Allequash, Big Muskellunge, Crystal, Sparkling, Trout, Mendota, Monona, and Fish), from 1981-1999, and in Lakes Monona and Fish from 1995-1999. This data is not available online (contact gahler@wisc.edu). No data was collected in 2000. In 2001, collection resumed on Crystal, Sparkling, and Trout. In 2005, collection resumed on Lake Mendota. This data is included in this dataset as CSV files. The data represent lake-wide density estimates for abundant pelagic prey species in each lake. The sampling on each lake was conducted in depths greater than 5 meters to avoid hazards to equipment. In addition, because of the near field acoustic effects, the upper 2 meters of the water column is not represented in the data. Although they were rare, large targets representing predatory species were excluded from the density estimation for pelagic prey species using the proportion of large targets identified during single target analysis on each lake. Densities for Sparkling, Crystal and Mendota are for the entire basin of each lake. The data shown for Trout Lake represent densities in only the south basin. Number of sites: 4 

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5. Spatial Risk Effects From Lions Compound Impacts of Prey Depletion on African Wild Dogs

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70401  

   Goodheart, Ben; Creel, Scott; Schuette, Paul; Droge, Egil; Becker, Justine A; Banda, Kambwiri; Kusler, Anna; Matsushima, Stephi; Banda, Kachama; Kabwe, Ruth; et al (October 2024, Ecology and Evolution)

   ABSTRACT Prey depletion threatens many carnivore species across the world and can especially threaten low‐density subordinate competitors, particularly if subordinates are limited to low densities by their dominant competitors. Understanding the mechanisms that drive responses of carnivore density to prey depletion is not only crucial for conservation but also elucidates the balance between top‐down and bottom‐up limitations within the large carnivore guild. To avoid predation, competitively subordinate African wild dogs typically avoid their dominant competitors (lions) and the prey rich areas they are associated with, but no prior research has tested whether this pattern persists in ecosystems with anthropogenically‐reduced prey density, and reduced lion density as a result. We used spatial data from wild dogs and lions in the prey‐depleted Greater Kafue Ecosystem to test if wild dogs continue to avoid lions (despite their low density), and consequently avoid habitats with higher densities of their dominant prey species. We found that although lion density is 3X lower than comparable ecosystems, wild dogs continue to strongly avoid lions, and consequently avoid habitats associated with their two most important prey species. Although the density of lions in the GKE is low due to prey depletion, their competitive effects on wild dogs remain strong. These effects are likely compounded by prey‐base homogenization, as lions in the GKE now rely heavily on the same prey preferred by wild dogs. These results suggest that a reduction in lion density does not necessarily reduce competition, and helps explain why wild dogs decline in parallel with their dominant competitors in ecosystems suffering from anthropogenic prey depletion. Protecting prey populations within the few remaining strongholds for wild dogs is vitally important to avoid substantial population declines. Globally, understanding the impacts of prey depletion on carnivore guild dynamics should be an increasingly important area of focus for conservation. 

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