Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.32582/aa.60.1.2

Recent changes (2013-2017) in scyphomedusan fauna in the Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro (Southeast Adriatic)

Ivana Violić ; University of Dubrovnik, D. Jude 12, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Tjaša Kogovšek ; Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, 6330 Piran, Slovenia
Branka Pestorić ; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro, Dobrota bb, 85330 Kotor, Montenegro
Vesna Mačić ; Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro, Dobrota bb, 85330 Kotor, Montenegro
Ivona Milić Beran ; University of Dubrovnik, D. Jude 12, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Davor Lučić ; University of Dubrovnik, D. Jude 12, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia

Abstract

A semi- quantitative time series (2013-2017) was used to present the recent events of scyphomedusae appearance and abundance in the Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro, Southeast Adriatic. Six meroplanktonic species were recorded: Aurelia spp, Chrysaora hysoscella, Cotylorhiza tuberculata ̧ Discomedusa lobata, Drymonema dalmatinum and Rhizostoma pulmo. Among them, C. hysoscella and D. lobata dominated in the water column during winter and spring, forming dense aggregations in March and May, and February to May, respectively. Our description of the D. lobata blooms are actually the first known records of blooms for this species. C. tuberculata was observed in the Bay principally in August and September. The bloom was occurred only in 2017, being the first information of C. tuberculata mass appearance in this area. We hypothesized that global warming phenomena could trigger the observed changes, and in this respect, long-term trends of sea surface temperature (SST) fluctuations were analysed. The scyphomedusae blooms coincided with high positive SST anomalies, noted in the last seven years for this area. To better understand the mechanisms underlying changes in their phenology and abundance, detailed studies on benthic stages in the Bay are essential.

Keywords

jellyfish; blooms; phenology; sea surface temperature; Mediterranean Sea

Hrčak ID:

223116

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/223116

Publication date:

15.7.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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