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Vertical Distribution, Morphology and Diet of Proboscidactyla Stellata (Cnidaria: Limnomedusae) in Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve, Co. Cork, Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

L. Ballard
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Prospect Row, University College, Cork, Ireland
A. Myers
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Prospect Row, University College, Cork, Ireland

Extract

The vertical distribution, morphology and diet of Proboscidactyla stellata (Cnidaria: Limnomedusae) were studied in Lough Hyne over a two year period. Vertical hauls of four depth strata, 40–30 m, 30–20 m, 20–10 m and 10–0 m, were taken monthly and at 4 h intervals for a period of 48 h in July and 24 h in September 1994. Proboscidactyla stellata was largely concentrated in the lower 20 m of the water column reaching a maximum of 21 m−3 at 30–20 m depth in June 1993. An oxythermocline occurred at 25–30 m depth in the summer and autumn months of 1993 and affected the vertical distribution of the medusae. Six morphs of the species, varying in the number of gonads, were found in the lough. Bivalve veligers, which P. stellata actively selected, formed 83% of the diet.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1997

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