Rapid response to changing light environments of the calanoid copepod Calanus sinicus

Calanus sinicus is a large calanoid copepod and a dominant species in the coastal waters of Japan. During a research cruise in Sagami Bay on 18 June 1996, we found C. sinicus performing an ldquounusualrdquo diel vertical migration (DVM), a behavior that has not been reported in previous studies on t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine biology 2004-09, Vol.145 (3), p.505-513
Main Authors: YOSHIDA, T, TODA, T, KUWAHARA, V, TAGUCHI, S, OTHMAN, B. H. R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal migration
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Calanoida
Calanus sinicus
Coastal waters
Dominant species
Fish
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Light
Light intensity
Marine
Marine biology
Sea water ecosystems
Synecology
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Summary:Calanus sinicus is a large calanoid copepod and a dominant species in the coastal waters of Japan. During a research cruise in Sagami Bay on 18 June 1996, we found C. sinicus performing an ldquounusualrdquo diel vertical migration (DVM), a behavior that has not been reported in previous studies on this species. This study examined the DVM of C. sinicus under different light environments and revealed the copepodrsquos characteristic response to light. Field and laboratory results show that the DVM of C. sinicus is flexible and also confirmed its sensitivity and its rapid response to changing light environments. It is suggested that C. sinicus reacts to changes in absolute light intensity. This feature may be common in oceanic copepod species. The copepodrsquos quick reaction to light variation provides decreased predation risks and increased feeding opportunities, which make them a dominant survivor in coastal water habitats. [PERIODICAL ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0025-3162
1432-1793
DOI:10.1007/s00227-004-1343-5