Mnemiopsis leidyi (comb jelly)

Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

General Impact Mnemiopsis ledyi is a major zooplankton predator and is associated with fishery crashes (Costello, 2001). A carnivorous predator on edible zooplankton (including meroplankton), pelagic fish eggs and larvae, M. leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. In the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, the zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. The pelagic ecosystem of the Black Sea was degraded, manifesting as sharply decreased biodiversity, abundance, and biomass of the main components of the pelagic ecosystem-zooplankton (Dumont and Shiganova). Fish stocks in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov have suffered due to predation on eggs and larval stages of food supplies (Shiganova 2003). Effects on the ecosystem in the Caspian Sea were faster and stronger than in the Black Sea. In 2001, repercussions were felt at all trophic levels, including that of the top predator, the Caspian seal (Dumont and Shiganova). A cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decrease in zooplankton stock and collapsing planktivorous fish, to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins. Similar effects occured at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, which was released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara. Effects on Mediterranean food webs have, so far, remained insignificant. Salinity is probably supraoptimal there, and several predators prevent M.leidyi from reaching outbreak levels.          Location Specific Impacts: Black Sea, Bulgaria (Bulgaria)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Agean Sea (Europe)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Black Sea, Georgia (Georgia)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Black Sea (Mediterranean)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Sea of Azov (Mediterranean)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Black Sea, Romania (Romania)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Black Sea, Russia (Russian Federation)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Black Sea, Turkey (Turkey)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova). Black Sea, Ukraine (Ukraine)   Ecosystem change: Mnemiopsis leidyi causes negative impacts right through the foodchain of the areas it has invaded. The M. leidyi invasion negatively affected the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and zooplanktivorous fish stocks all underwent profound changes. Cascading effect occurred at the higher trophic levels, from a decreasing zooplankton stock to collapsing planktivorous fish to vanishing predatory fish and dolphins Similar effects occurred at lower trophic levels: from a decrease in zooplankton stock to an increase in phytoplankton, released from zooplankton grazing pressure. The majority of these effects were top-down, but a few were also bottom-up. Similar effects, but less pronounced, were recorded in the Sea of Marmara (Dumont and Shiganova).