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| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-2022-02-0023 |
| Title of Abstract | IS CLIMATE CHANGE ATTRIBUTED TO ENIGMATIC GELATINOUS ZOOPLANKTON BLOOMS IN THE ARABIAN SEA |
| Authors | Hari Praved P*, Dr. S. Bijoy Nandan |
| Organisation | Cochin University of Science and Technology |
| Address | Dept.of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences Ernamkulam - 682016, Kerala, India Pincode: 682016 Mobile: 9567701273 E-mail: praved.hari07@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Gelatinous zooplankton blooms are frequently recorded over the past two centuries from historical monographs to recent scientific articles. Only a few scattered information is available on their distribution, ecology, and taxonomy from the Indian waters. During the present study information from different research cruises and field visits to estuaries, coastal waters, and offshore regions of the Arabian Sea from September 2018 to July 2021 period. Though various species of gelatinous organisms were recorded, only a few species have been attained the population size to form large blooms. They were Netrostoma coerulescens, Lychnorhiza malayensis, Aequorea pensilis, Pelagia nocticula, Acromitus flagellates, Crambionella orsini, Chrysaora caliparea, Cyanea nozakii, Beroe ovata, Porpita porpita, Physalia physalis, and Pleurobrachia pileus. Samples were collected by using a bongo net having 200 µm mesh with a diameter of 60 cm from a motorized boat or from FORV ⿿Sagar Sampada. Collected specimens were preserved in 4% neutralized formalin solution. In the laboratory, they were identified up to species or higher taxon level using standard reference material. The present study provides a formal record of invasive ctenophore species Beroe ovata from the Arabian Sea for the first time; they are native to the Atlantic coasts of North and South America. Except for Crambionella orsini, Acromitus flagellates, and Pleurobrachia pileus, which blooms from monsoon to non-monsoon, most of the species involved in blooms were dominant during monsoon. The analysis suggested strong correlations between jellyfish abundance and dissolved inorganic nutrients and chlorophyll-a content. World oceans are reported to be losing many species of meso and micro planktonic groups and their ecological niche is replaced by the pervading gelatinous species possibly altering food web structure. So that the correct identification, documentation of physical and ecological information related to their ecology is important to understand their response to climate-related issues from the Indian Ocean region. |