CHAPTER 20
First Data on the Mysid Community in the "Stagnone di Marsala"
(Western Sicily)
M. Campolmit,A.Vaccar02, and A. Mazzola:!
ABSTRACT
First data on the spatial and temporal distribution of the mysid community in the "$tagnone di
Marsala" (western Sicily) from January to December 1996 are reported. The assemblage consists
mainly of five species which are common in the Mediterranean Sea: Diamysis bahirensis (55.2%),
Siriella armata (18.6%), S. clausii (15.8%), Mysidopsis gibbosa (9.8%) and Mesopodopsis slabberi
(0.6%). Population structure is described for each species and the reproductive period inferred.
A sharp increase in abundance occurred in the spring, while the minima occurred during
autumn-winter. The D. bahirensis dominated from March to October and S. clausii in the winter.
A large difference, which was mainly quantitative, was recorded between the population from
the inner area and that from the area more influenced by the sea. Clear seasonal patterns and
spatial segregation in the inner part of the sampling area were observed.
Introduction
Mysids are usually demersal organisms, living
near the bottom during the day and rising up
into the water column at night, following a typical daily migratory pattern. Their spatial and
temporal distribution in a given habitat appears
to be affected by a number of abiotic (mainly
temperature. light and salinity) and biotic (e.g.
predation, food availability) factors (Clutter
1967; Mauchline 1980; Williams and Collins
1984; Wittmann 1984; Wooldridge 1989; Webb
and Wooldridge 1990; Mees et al. 1993). Mysid
distribution is also influenced by their typical
aggregative behaviour (Clutter 1969; Wittmann
1977; Mauchline 1980; Omori and Hamner 1982;
Carleton and Hamner 1989; Mees et al. 1993),
As reported by Mauchline (1980). mysids can
contribute significantly to animal biomass in
lagoons, where they use organic detritus as a
food source. The mysid community can play an
important role in remineralizing detritus in shallow environments (Carleton and Hamner 1989).
These animals may act as a major link between
pelagic and benthic food webs since they undergo vertical migrations and are preyed on by fish
(Ariani and Spagnuolo 1975; Mauchline 1980;
Turpen et al. 1994).
Many studies have been carried out on mysid
communities along the Italian coasts. mainly on
their taxonomy (Colosi 1929; Genovese 1956a, b,
1963; Ariani 1966, 1967; Ariani and Spagnuolo
1975; Wittmann 1977).
In the present paper we provide frrst data on
species composition, population structure and
distribution of the mysid assemblage in a shallow coastal sound (Stagnone di Marsala. western
Sicily).
This study was carried out in the framework
of a research programme which focused on zooplankton. Although the sampling method was
not specifically designed to collect mysids (only
a plankton net was used), the data presented can
provide frrst quali -quantitative information on
the mysid assemblage occurring in this environment, where they constitute a food source for
many fish species such as Mullus surmuletus (La
Rosa et al.1997),Atherina boyeri (Scilipoti 1998),
Syngnathus abaster and especially S. typhle
(Campolmi et al.1996; Scilipoti 1998), and where
they may play an important role as detritivores
(Vaccaro 1998).
I Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, Universita di Messina, Salita Sperone 31,98166 Messina, Italy
2 Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Universita di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18,90123 Palermo, Italy
F.M. Faranda, L. Guslielmo, G. Spezie (eels)
Mediterranean Ecosystems: Structures and Processes
@ Springer-Verlag Italia 2001
First Data on the Mysid Community in the "Stagnone di Marsala"
(Western Sicily)
M. Campolmit,A.Vaccar02, and A. Mazzola:!
ABSTRACT
First data on the spatial and temporal distribution of the mysid community in the "$tagnone di
Marsala" (western Sicily) from January to December 1996 are reported. The assemblage consists
mainly of five species which are common in the Mediterranean Sea: Diamysis bahirensis (55.2%),
Siriella armata (18.6%), S. clausii (15.8%), Mysidopsis gibbosa (9.8%) and Mesopodopsis slabberi
(0.6%). Population structure is described for each species and the reproductive period inferred.
A sharp increase in abundance occurred in the spring, while the minima occurred during
autumn-winter. The D. bahirensis dominated from March to October and S. clausii in the winter.
A large difference, which was mainly quantitative, was recorded between the population from
the inner area and that from the area more influenced by the sea. Clear seasonal patterns and
spatial segregation in the inner part of the sampling area were observed.
Introduction
Mysids are usually demersal organisms, living
near the bottom during the day and rising up
into the water column at night, following a typical daily migratory pattern. Their spatial and
temporal distribution in a given habitat appears
to be affected by a number of abiotic (mainly
temperature. light and salinity) and biotic (e.g.
predation, food availability) factors (Clutter
1967; Mauchline 1980; Williams and Collins
1984; Wittmann 1984; Wooldridge 1989; Webb
and Wooldridge 1990; Mees et al. 1993). Mysid
distribution is also influenced by their typical
aggregative behaviour (Clutter 1969; Wittmann
1977; Mauchline 1980; Omori and Hamner 1982;
Carleton and Hamner 1989; Mees et al. 1993),
As reported by Mauchline (1980). mysids can
contribute significantly to animal biomass in
lagoons, where they use organic detritus as a
food source. The mysid community can play an
important role in remineralizing detritus in shallow environments (Carleton and Hamner 1989).
These animals may act as a major link between
pelagic and benthic food webs since they undergo vertical migrations and are preyed on by fish
(Ariani and Spagnuolo 1975; Mauchline 1980;
Turpen et al. 1994).
Many studies have been carried out on mysid
communities along the Italian coasts. mainly on
their taxonomy (Colosi 1929; Genovese 1956a, b,
1963; Ariani 1966, 1967; Ariani and Spagnuolo
1975; Wittmann 1977).
In the present paper we provide frrst data on
species composition, population structure and
distribution of the mysid assemblage in a shallow coastal sound (Stagnone di Marsala. western
Sicily).
This study was carried out in the framework
of a research programme which focused on zooplankton. Although the sampling method was
not specifically designed to collect mysids (only
a plankton net was used), the data presented can
provide frrst quali -quantitative information on
the mysid assemblage occurring in this environment, where they constitute a food source for
many fish species such as Mullus surmuletus (La
Rosa et al.1997),Atherina boyeri (Scilipoti 1998),
Syngnathus abaster and especially S. typhle
(Campolmi et al.1996; Scilipoti 1998), and where
they may play an important role as detritivores
(Vaccaro 1998).
I Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, Universita di Messina, Salita Sperone 31,98166 Messina, Italy
2 Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Universita di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18,90123 Palermo, Italy
F.M. Faranda, L. Guslielmo, G. Spezie (eels)
Mediterranean Ecosystems: Structures and Processes
@ Springer-Verlag Italia 2001