Understanding Cassiopea andromeda (Scyphozoa) Invasiveness in Different Habitats: A Multiple Biomarker Comparison

A dual nutrition mode (i.e., mixotrophy) can be advantageous for alien species in a new environment. In Cearà (Brazil), the symbiotic jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda is rapidly spreading under diverse environmental conditions across natural and human-altered coastal habitats, such as mangroves shrimp farms. Here we report on trophic ecology of upside-down sampled these two contrasting habitats during dry (July–October) rainy (January–April) seasons, investigated by means organic biomarkers (lipids, carbohydrates) bulk tissue stable isotope (δ15N δ13C) analyses. Total lipid content gonads was generally higher farms, whereas no significant difference carbohydrate concentration found tissues from different habitats. Similarly, there were differences δ15N values δ13C Overall, carbon-enriched value aquaculture ponds supports hypothesis available food sources compared to mangrove where availability exhibits stronger seasonality. fact, are characterized human-driven regular supply, leading more enhanced growth, production, gonadal output C. jellyfish. This investigation may contribute predicting how mixotrophy explaining its differential success