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Stable Laboratory Culture System for the Ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi

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Ctenophores

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2757))

Abstract

Ctenophores are marine organisms attracting significant attention from evolutionary biology, molecular biology, and ecological research. Here, we describe an easy and affordable setup to maintain a stable culture of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. The challenging delicacy of the lobate ctenophores can be met by monitoring the water quality, providing the right nutrition, and adapting the handling and tank set-up to their fragile gelatinous body plan. Following this protocol allows stable laboratory lines, a continuous supply of embryos for molecular biological studies, and independence from population responses to environmental fluctuations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to express their gratitude to Miguel Candelas (L’Oceanogràfic, Spain) for his valuable recommendations on feeding regimes and Anne Aasjord, Kjerstin Nilsen Nøkling and Eilen Myrvold (Michael Sars Centre) for their accurate advice on water quality aspects. We also thank Mari Bergsvåg (Michael Sars Centre) for taking the picture of the lobed adult ctenophore in Fig. 3 and Aino Hosia and Luis Martell (University Museum of Bergen) for sharing their expertise on sampling delicate gelatinous zooplankton. This work was supported by the Michael Sars Centre core budget and the European Research Council Consolidator Grant (101044989, “ORIGINEURO”) awarded to P.B.

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Author notes

  1. Authors Joan J. Soto-Angel and Eva-Lena Nordmann have equally contributed to this chapter.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Joan J. Soto-Angel, Eva-Lena Nordmann, Maria Sachkova, Kevin Pang & Pawel Burkhardt

  2. University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    Daniela Sturm

Authors
  1. Joan J. Soto-Angel
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  2. Eva-Lena Nordmann
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  3. Daniela Sturm
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  4. Maria Sachkova
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  5. Kevin Pang
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  6. Pawel Burkhardt
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Joan J. Soto-Angel or Pawel Burkhardt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA

    Leonid L. Moroz

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Soto-Angel, J.J., Nordmann, EL., Sturm, D., Sachkova, M., Pang, K., Burkhardt, P. (2024). Stable Laboratory Culture System for the Ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. In: Moroz, L.L. (eds) Ctenophores. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2757. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3642-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3642-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-3641-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-3642-8

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