Effects of hypoxia on Mnemiopsis leidyi, ichthyoplankton and copepods: clearance rates and vertical habitat overlap.

The article presents a study which conducts several laboratory experiments to determine the whether dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration affects clearance rates of Mnemiopsis Leidyi that feeds on ichthyplankton. The results from the laboratory experiment shows that there were no significant Do effects on Mnemiopsis Leidyi clearance rates on bay anchovy eggs, however, bottom layer DO concentrations affects the distribution of motile organisms. Data related to the field sampling to quantify vertical habitat overlap between gelatinous predators and its prey at different bottom DO concentrations is also discussed. It is concluded that vertical distribution can affect spatial overlap between predator and prey which alters predation rates.