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Factors affecting distribution and abundance of jellyfish medusae in a temperate estuary: a multi-decadal study

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Abstract

Three hydrozoan species, reputedly from the Black Sea (Maeotias marginata, Blackfordia virginica, Moerisia lyonsi), are now found throughout the San Francisco Estuary, California, but long-term and seasonal patterns of distribution and abundance have been poorly documented. We evaluated trends from 35 years of monthly otter trawl data and from a 2-year macrozooplankton survey in Suisun Marsh, a brackish region with extensive tidal sloughs and channels that is part of the San Francisco Estuary. Medusae of all three hydrozoans occurred primarily during the dry season (summer–fall). Abundance of M. marginata medusae significantly increased since the 1980s. Moerisia lyonsi was the most abundant hydrozoan in the macrozooplankton medusa survey followed by M. marginata and B. virginica. Salinity and temperature were strongly positively associated with medusa abundance. Maeotias marginata occurred in the lowest salinity range (2.3–9.1 ppt), while M. lyonsi (2.8–9.9 ppt) and B. virginica (5.6–10.3 ppt) occupied slightly higher salinities. Overall, abundance and distribution of medusae of these three hydrozoans in Suisun Marsh depended on seasonal stability of environmental conditions that favored blooms. While harmful effects have yet to be demonstrated, they could become more of a problem as both sea level and water temperatures rise, especially given the combined range of environmental conditions at which the three species occur.

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Acknowledgements

Sampling in Suisun Marsh has been the responsibility of many graduate students and others over the years, especially Donald Baltz, Robert Daniels, Bruce Herbold, Lesa Meng, Scott Matern, Patrick Crain, John Durand, Alpa Wintzer, and Sabra Purdy. We have also been assisted by literally hundreds of volun-teers and student assistants. Special thanks to Robert Schroeter for collecting much of the jellyfish data and conducting some preliminary analyses. A final thank you goes to subject editor Jim Carlton and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions which made for a better overall manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Watershed Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA

    Jason Baumsteiger, Teejay A. O’Rear, Amber D. Manfree & Peter B. Moyle

  2. Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA

    Jonathan D. Cook & Peter B. Moyle

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  1. Jason Baumsteiger
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  2. Teejay A. O’Rear
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Correspondence to Jason Baumsteiger.

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Baumsteiger, J., O’Rear, T.A., Cook, J.D. et al. Factors affecting distribution and abundance of jellyfish medusae in a temperate estuary: a multi-decadal study. Biol Invasions 20, 105–119 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1518-x

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