[MARMAM] New Article

[Dave Duffus]

For those interested in gray whale-prey dynamics, the following paper is 
available:

Feyrer, L. J.  Differences in embryo production between sympatric species 
of mysids (family Mysidae) in the shallow coastal waters off Vancouver Island, 
BC.  Marine Biology,   DOI	10.1007/s00227-010-1510-9

Whale Research Lab, Department of Geography, University of Victoria, PO 3060 
STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P5, Canada

Received: 25 January 2010  Accepted: 25 June 2010  Published online: 8 July 
2010

Abstract  
The ecological importance of mysid (Crustacea: Mysidacea) populations in 
coastal food webs is not well understood. Although the 10 or more species 
of epibenthic mysids found in Clayoquot Sound, BC, Canada, form the primary 
prey resource for seasonally abundant gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), 
little is known about their life history. Here, Holmesmysis sculpta dominates 
multi-species swarms, however there are several potential routes to this 
state, one of which is higher embryo production. Reproductive capacity is 
key to the resiliency of local mysid populations and species diversity, in 
this study I compare one aspect, brood size for the four most commonly found 
species, H. sculpta, Neomysis rayii, Exacanthomysis davisi, and Columbiaemysis 
ignota. The number of embryos per brood was found to vary significantly between 
species; however, individual length is a stronger determinant of brood size. 
Here, I report previously unknown life history attributes of coastal mysid 
species, with important consequences for community structure and local marine 
food webs.