Dolioletta gegenbaueri play an important role as consumers of phytoplankton in the neritic zone. These doliolids are abundant in numerous regions of the coastal ocean and help control the abundance of protozoa and free-spawning copepods (Gibson, 2000). Their growth rate increases with increasing temperature, and small individuals have higher growth rates than larger individuals. Increasing concentrations of phytoplankton is also assocaited with increased growth rates (Gibson, 2000). Reseach conducted in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan showed thatD. gegenbaueriis capable of prolific population booms under favorable feeding conditions (Nakamura, 1998). When phytoplankton is abundant, the doliolid can reproduce asexually and one individual can produce thousands of offspring withing a few days. This can create populations as dense as 500 individuals per cubic meter (Nakamura, 1998).
Dolioletta gegenbaueri play an important role as consumers of phytoplankton in the neritic zone. These doliolids are abundant in numerous regions of the coastal ocean and help control the abundance of protozoa and free-spawning copepods (Gibson, 2000). Their growth rate increases with increasing temperature, and small individuals have higher growth rates than larger individuals. Increasing concentrations of phytoplankton is also associated with increased growth rates (Gibson, 2000). Research conducted in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan showed that D. gegenbaueri is capable of prolific population booms under favorable feeding conditions (Nakamura, 1998). When phytoplankton is abundant, the doliolid can reproduce asexually and one individual can produce thousands of offspring within a few days. This can create populations as dense as 500 individuals per cubic meter (Nakamura, 1998).
Dolioletta gegenbaueri play an important role as consumers of phytoplankton in the neritic zone. These doliolids are abundant in numerous regions of the coastal ocean and help control the abundance of protozoa and free-spawning copepods (Gibson, 2000). Their growth rate increases with increasing temperature, and small individuals have higher growth rates than larger individuals. Increasing concentrations of phytoplankton is also assocaited with increased growth rates (Gibson, 2000). Reseach conducted in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan showed thatD. gegenbaueriis capable of prolific population booms under favorable feeding conditions (Nakamura, 1998). When phytoplankton is abundant, the doliolid can reproduce asexually and one individual can produce thousands of offspring withing a few days. This can create populations as dense as 500 individuals per cubic meter (Nakamura, 1998).
