Erin McLaughlin, Salisbury State University

Class Year:

1998

Mentor:

Denise Breitburg Ph.D.

Abstract:

The ctenophore, Mnemiopsis teidyi, was collected from two sites on the Patuxent River. Ctenophores were placed in three experimental treatments: (1) unstratified water column, (2) temperature stratified water column, and (3) dissolved oxygen and temperature stratified water column. Experiments to determine oxygen and temperature stratified water column. Experiments to determine ctenophore sensitivity to low dissolved oxygen levels were also conducted. Stratification sensitivity to low dissolved oxygen levels were also conducted. Stratification experiment results indicate ctenophores avoid both high surface temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels (≤ 1.4 mg/L). Results of the sensitivity experiments show that 14 M. leidyi can withstand very low dissolved oxygen levels for at least a period of 96 hours.

Location:

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center