Gelatinous lifeforms sampled on the Faroe Bank on the demersal summer survey September 2024: Image record of specimens preserved for DNA sequencing as part of the GLoBECC project

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Abstract

Gelatinous zooplankton, including jellyfish, play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. They are important predators, consuming a wide range of prey from small plankton to juvenile fish, and also serve as a valuable food source for larger marine organisms. Additionally, certain hydrozoan taxa can pose significant challenges to finfish aquaculture, sometimes leading to substantial mortality. Despite their importance, there have been no systematic studies of gelatinous zooplankton in Faroese waters, leaving us with a limited understanding of their role, particularly concerning fisheries. Most global climate models predict an increase in the occurrence and biomass of jellyfish under future climate scenarios. Therefore, establishing an effective monitoring approach for Faroese waters is a critical endeavor. This technical report contributes to the newly funded project GLoBECC (Gelatinous Lifeforms in Faroese Waters: Biodiversity, Regional Connectivity, and Capacity Building; Granskingar ráðið; 2024-2026). As part of the standardized demersal trawl survey on the Faroe Bank, WP2 net samples were collected using a modified retrieval technique designed to preserve the morphological integrity of gelatinous organisms. The specimens were imaged and preserved in ethanol for DNA barcoding to confirm their taxonomic identity. This effort aims to establish a local reference database for future monitoring, including eDNA metabarcoding. A total of 49 images were collected, with 25 specimens preserved for sequencing. Notable preliminary findings include specimens of Aglanta digitales, Leptomedusa spp., Pleurobrachia spp., Actinula larvae, and the siphonophore (string jellyfish) Apolemia spp. The presence of Pleurobrachia spp. is particularly noteworthy, as its occurrence on the Faroe Bank aligns with its apparent dominance in Faroese Shelf and fjord environments in 2024. The observation of Apolemia spp. is also significant, as it represents the first recorded instance of a string jellyfish in Faroese waters in 2024; this genus caused serious salmon mortality in Norwegian aquaculture in 2023. Additionally, we retrieved three large specimens of the mesopelagic helmet jellyfish (Periphylla periphylla) from the demersal trawl samples, documenting it’s presence on the shallow Faroe Bank for the first time. A subset of gelatinous material from fish stomachs was collected to investigate their role as prey items in demersal fisheries. This report serves to provide documentation of the images and samples that were collected for DNA sequencing and the first documented records and images of gelatinous species on the Faroe Bank.
Original languageEnglish
TypeTechnical Report
PublisherFaroe Marine Research Institute
Number of pages26
Place of PublicationTorshavn
Edition05
Volume24
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024

Publication series

NameHavstovan Technical Reports
PublisherHavstovan
No.05
Volume24

Keywords

  • GLOBeCC
  • Faroe Bank
  • Jellyfish
  • Gelatinous zooplankton
  • Siphonophores
  • Apolemia
  • Pleurobrachia
  • Aglanta digitales

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