Effects of intraguild predation on growth of sea anemone and scyphozoan with age structure

Scyphozoan blooms disrupt the structure and function of coastal ecosystems, thereby exerting a profound impact on the degradation and evolution of those ecosystems. Exploring the ecological role of scyphozoan in the marine food web has become a critical concern in marine ecology. Observations revealed that sea anemones, another type of marine benthos, exhibit predator–prey and competitive interactions with scyphozoans at different stages of their life cycle, resulting in contrasting distribution patterns in coastal environments. In this study, a comprehensive food chain and life history model was formulated to account for the intraguild predation of anemones on scyphozoans. Our findings indicate that, in an ecosystem where anemones and scyphozoans coexist, the impact of scyphozoans reproduction on the stable state was diminished, and scyphozoans are not prone to mass blooms. Furthermore, the integration of anemones as biological control agents with non-biological strategies offers a promising approach to suppress scyphozoan surges. These results lay the theoretical foundation for an in-depth understanding of the distribution patterns of two populations, and offer valuable decision-making support and theoretical guidance for the implementation of effective control strategies aimed at mitigating scyphozoan blooms.