Response of the pelagic tunicate appendicularian, Oikopleura dioica to controlled simulations of a strong bloom condition: A bottom-up perspective

Carla M. Lobón, Jean-Marie Bouquet, Magnus Reeve, Aliona Novac, José Luis Acuña, Eric M. Thompson and Christofer Troedsson

Limnol. Oceanogr., 58(1), 2013, 215-226 | DOI: 10.4319/lo.2013.58.1.0215

ABSTRACT: To test the hypothesis of bottom-up regulation of appendicularians under high food conditions that occur during blooms, an experiment including measurements of fecundity, hatching success, and mortality at different quantity and quality of food was performed on Oikopleura dioica. Food level and fecundity were positively correlated. There was little effect of food on adult mortality, although higher food levels significantly decreased successful juvenile development. The positive effect of increased food concentration on fecundity was offset by a negative effect on hatching success; hence, the variance in quality and quantity of food explored in this study had little effect on the intrinsic rate of natural increase.