Cross-shelf movement of chrysaora fulgida (scyphozoa; discomedusae) off namibia inferred from stable isotopes (δ15n and δ13c)

dc.contributor.authorSkrypzeck, Heidi
dc.contributor.authorvan der Lingen, Carl David
dc.contributor.authorGibbons, Mark J
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-06T08:58:59Z
dc.date.available2023-06-06T08:58:59Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractLarge and small specimens of two species of metagenic Scyphozoa (true jellyfishes) can be found in nearshore waters off central Namibia throughout the year. Whereas populations of Chrysaora africana are largely restricted to inshore waters, C. fulgida occurs across the shelf, with small individuals found inshore and large individuals primarily found offshore. We examined stable isotopes δ15N and δ13C of both species in Walvis Bay and found that large-sized C. fulgida have lower δ15N values than small individuals and C. africana throughout the year. These differences are interpreted to reflect cross-shelf changes in δ15N baseline levels, with greater nitrogen recycling (and hence lower δ15N values) occurring offshore. The occasional/seasonal nearshore appearance of large C. fulgida with low δ15N values therefore implies routine, onshore advection. The values of δ13C did not show cross-shelf differences, which suggests that jellyfish populations across the shelf are supported by phytoplankton-based food chains. This study emphasises the value of using stable isotopes to examine the mesoscale structuring of jellyfish populations.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSkrypzeck, H. et al. (2021). Cross-shelf movement of chrysaora fulgida (scyphozoa; discomedusae) off namibia inferred from stable isotopes (δ15n and δ13c). African Journal of Marine Science, 43 (1) , 87-93. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2021.1879268en_US
dc.identifier.issn1814-2338
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2021.1879268
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/9028
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTaylor and Francis Groupen_US
dc.subjectBiodiversityen_US
dc.subjectNamibiaen_US
dc.subjectBiologyen_US
dc.subjectPopulation studiesen_US
dc.subjectConservationen_US
dc.titleCross-shelf movement of chrysaora fulgida (scyphozoa; discomedusae) off namibia inferred from stable isotopes (δ15n and δ13c)en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
skrypzeck_cross shelf movement of chrysaora fulgida_2021.pdf
Size:
684.75 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: