We have studied the diet and the feeding behaviour of Carybdea marsupialis using different approaches. Gut contents analyses revealed copepods, mysids, and gammarids, as the main prey items, followed by polychaete, and larvae and juveniles of fish. Diet composition and proportion of empty/non empty stomachs, and prey selectivity index varied between day and night. We also present, and discuss, data on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis to provide more information about the trophic role of this species. Finally, we estimated the potential predation impacts on zooplankton and fish larvae of this blooming organism by combining the results of our experiments with quantitative data on the abundance of C. marsupialis and their prey

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Annual Science Conference (ICES ASC 2014), Sustainability in a changing ocean, 15-19 September 2014, La Coruña.-- 2 pages

Peer Reviewed