Feeding and starvation in the native ctenophore Bolinopsis infundibulum and the introduced Mnemiopsis leidyi in the North Sea: Implications for ctenophore transport in ships' ballast water

Abstract

Two lobate ctenophores, Bolinopsis infundibulum and Mnemiopsis leidyi, occur in the North Sea. Stomach contents of field-collected B. infundibulum were recorded and clearance rates for cladocerans and copepods calculated. In starvation experiments, daily body carbon losses of 2.2 and 1.2% and total carbon content losses of 76 and 63% were observed for B. infundibulum (after 68 days) and M. leidyi (after 67 days), respectively.