Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope Analysis
When species spread into new regions, competition with native species and predatory–prey relationships play a major role in whether the new species can successfully establish itself in the recipient food web and become invasive. In aquatic habitats, species with a metagenetic life cycle, such as the...
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| author | Sabine Gießler Tido Strauss Katrin Schachtl Thomas Jankowski Ramona Klotz Herwig Stibor |
| author_facet | Sabine Gießler Tido Strauss Katrin Schachtl Thomas Jankowski Ramona Klotz Herwig Stibor |
| author_sort | Sabine Gießler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | When species spread into new regions, competition with native species and predatory–prey relationships play a major role in whether the new species can successfully establish itself in the recipient food web and become invasive. In aquatic habitats, species with a metagenetic life cycle, such as the freshwater jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta</i> with benthic polyps and planktonic medusae, have to meet the requirements of two distinct life stages occurring in two habitats with different food webs. Here, we examined the trophic position of both life stages, known to be predatory, and compared their niches with those of putative native competitors using stable isotope analysis. We found that δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N signatures of medusae overlapped with those of co-occurring <i>Chaoborus</i> larvae and juvenile fish (<i>Rutilus rutilus</i>) in a well-studied lake, implying high competition with these native predators. The comparison of δ<sup>15</sup>N signatures of <i>Hydra</i> and <i>Craspedacusta</i> polyps in four additional lakes revealed their similar trophic position, matching their predatory lifestyle. However, their δ<sup>13</sup>C signatures differed not only across all four of the lakes studied but also within one lake over time, suggesting a preference for pelagic or benthic food sources. We conclude that invasive and native polyps differ in their niches due to different food spectra, which favors the invasion success of <i>Craspedacusta</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:42Z |
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| issn | 2079-7737 |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:44:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5ab22bfaec16444695c0714a6af18b412023-11-18T09:22:56ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-06-0112681410.3390/biology12060814Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope AnalysisSabine Gießler0Tido Strauss1Katrin Schachtl2Thomas Jankowski3Ramona Klotz4Herwig Stibor5Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyResearch Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac), Kackertstrasse 10, 52072 Aachen, GermanyFaculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyLimnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Mainaustraße 252, 78467 Konstanz, GermanyFaculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyFaculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyWhen species spread into new regions, competition with native species and predatory–prey relationships play a major role in whether the new species can successfully establish itself in the recipient food web and become invasive. In aquatic habitats, species with a metagenetic life cycle, such as the freshwater jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta</i> with benthic polyps and planktonic medusae, have to meet the requirements of two distinct life stages occurring in two habitats with different food webs. Here, we examined the trophic position of both life stages, known to be predatory, and compared their niches with those of putative native competitors using stable isotope analysis. We found that δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N signatures of medusae overlapped with those of co-occurring <i>Chaoborus</i> larvae and juvenile fish (<i>Rutilus rutilus</i>) in a well-studied lake, implying high competition with these native predators. The comparison of δ<sup>15</sup>N signatures of <i>Hydra</i> and <i>Craspedacusta</i> polyps in four additional lakes revealed their similar trophic position, matching their predatory lifestyle. However, their δ<sup>13</sup>C signatures differed not only across all four of the lakes studied but also within one lake over time, suggesting a preference for pelagic or benthic food sources. We conclude that invasive and native polyps differ in their niches due to different food spectra, which favors the invasion success of <i>Craspedacusta</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/814freshwater jellyfish<i>Craspedacusta</i>polypmedusa<i>Hydra</i>fish |
| spellingShingle | Sabine Gießler Tido Strauss Katrin Schachtl Thomas Jankowski Ramona Klotz Herwig Stibor Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope Analysis Biology freshwater jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta</i> polyp medusa <i>Hydra</i> fish |
| title | Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_full | Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_short | Trophic Positions of Polyp and Medusa Stages of the Freshwater Jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta sowerbii</i> Based on Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_sort | trophic positions of polyp and medusa stages of the freshwater jellyfish i craspedacusta sowerbii i based on stable isotope analysis |
| topic | freshwater jellyfish <i>Craspedacusta</i> polyp medusa <i>Hydra</i> fish |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/6/814 |
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