| Title: | Microbial degradation of jellyfish detritus promotes phytoplankton growth in coastal marine ecosystems |
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| Authors: | ID Tinta, Tinkara (Author)
ID Fadeev, Eduard (Author)
ID Celussi, Mauro (Author)
ID Balestra, Cecilia (Author)
ID Klun, Katja (Author)
ID Mozetič, Patricija (Author)
ID Herndl, Gerhard J. (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://academic.oup.com/ismecommun/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ismeco/ycag185/8722769?login=false
 PDF - Presentation file, download (1,14 MB)
MD5: 6BBCA703376AEB06655D8C1DA804267A
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  NIB - National Institute of Biology
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| Abstract: | Gelatinous zooplankton (hereinafter cnidarian Medusozoa and ctenophores or “jellyfish”) are widespread in marine ecosystems and can form massive blooms, releasing large amounts of labile, protein-rich organic matter (jelly-OM) upon decay. This material fuels intense bacterial activity, yet its ecological consequences remain poorly understood. We conducted a two-stage microcosm experiment simulating a bloom decay of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi to examine microbial processing of jelly-OM and its effect on primary production. In the first stage, over the course of three days, we observed jelly-OM stimulating rapid growth of opportunistic bacterial community. The community was dominated by Pseudoalteromonadaceae – key degraders of diverse jellyfish, which exhibited enhanced metabolism of amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates and elevated extracellular enzymatic activities, including leucine aminopeptidase, lipase, chitinase, and alkaline phosphatase. These processes led to marked ammonium accumulation. In the second stage, exposure of a fresh microbial assemblage to residues from jelly-OM degradation resulted in a significant increase of primary production and phytoplankton biomass over a period of five days. This was dominated by diatoms and was likely fueled by accumulated ammonium. Concurrently, the bacterial community shifted toward taxa typically associated with phytoplankton blooms. Together, these results, further supported by in situ observations, reveal a likely coupling between jellyfish decay and phytoplankton growth, suggesting that jellyfish blooms act as transient but powerful nutrient sources capable of triggering ecosystem shifts. As jellyfish are projected to thrive under future ocean conditions, our findings underscore the need to re-evaluate their role in biogeochemical cycles—particularly as overlooked drivers of phytoplankton dynamics. |
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| Keywords: | jellyfish blooms, organic matter degradation, microbial remineralization, phytoplankton dynamics, primary production, biogeochemical cycling, microscopy-based approach, metagenomics |
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| Publication status: | In print |
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| Publication version: | Submitted Version |
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| Publication date: | 01.07.2026 |
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| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 1-45 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-31210  |
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| UDC: | 574.583:579.68 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2730-6151 |
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| DOI: | 10.1093/ismeco/ycag185 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 285550339 |
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| Note: | Soavtorji: Eduard Fadeev, Mauro Celussi, Cecilia Balestra, Katja Klun, Patricija Mozetič, Gerhard J Herndl;
Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Opis vira z dne 21. 7. 2026;
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 22.07.2026 |
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| Views: | 129 |
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| Downloads: | 88 |
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