Identifying the drivers of abundance and size of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in Northwestern Mediterranean lagoons

• Published in: Marine environmental research Vol. 119; pp. 114 - 125
• Main Authors: Delpy, Floriane, Albouy-Boyer, Séverine, Pagano, Marc, Thibault, Delphine, Blanchot, Jean, Guilhaumon, François, Molinero, Juan Carlos, Bonnet, Delphine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2016; Elsevier science
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity and Ecology; Blooms; Chlorophyll - analysis; Ctenophora - physiology; Driving factors; Environment and Society; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Sciences; Gelatinous plankton; Global Changes; Introduced Species; Invasive species; Marine; Mediterranean lagoons; Mediterranean Sea; Mnemiopsis leidyi; Salinity; MED, Western Mediterranean; MED, France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Sete; MED; Mnemiopsis leidyi; Invasive species; Driving factors; Gelatinous plankton; Mediterranean lagoons; Blooms
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.05.026

Acknowledged as among the worst invasive marine species, Mnemiopsis leidyi has spread through European Seas since the mid-1980’s. Here we report a bimonthly survey conducted in 2010–11 in three lagoons (Bages-Sigean, Thau and Berre) and at two adjacent coastal stations (Sète and SOMLIT-Marseille) along the French Mediterranean coast. M. leidyi was present only in Berre and Bages-Sigean with maximum abundances observed in late summer. M. leidyi adults were present year round in Berre with the largest organisms (∼6 cm) observed in April. In Bages-Sigean, they occurred in sufficient abundance to be recorded by fishermen between August and November. Multiple linear regressions highlighted that abundance in both lagoons was mainly influenced by direct effects of salinity and chlorophyll-a, and temperature to a lesser extent. While M. leidyi has not yet been recorded in Thau, the lagoon is continually monitored to detect the potential establishment of M. leidyi.
•The invasive ctenophore M. leidyi has spread in European Seas.•A bimonthly survey (2010–11) was realized along the French Mediterranean coast.•Highest abundance was observed in late summer at Berre and Bages-Sigean lagoons.•Adults were detected year round in Berre and seasonally in Bages-Sigean.•Salinity and chlorophyll a are particularly correlated with M. leidyi blooms.