Zooplankton vertical migration and plasticity of pigmentation arising from simultaneous UV and predation threats
Author
Summary, in English
We assessed how zooplankton (copepods) handle the simultaneous threats of predators and ultraviolet (UV)
radiation and whether they respond with changes in pigmentation, vertical migration, or both. We found weak
vertical migration among copepods in response to UV stress, and this response was not apparently influenced by
predation risk. Exposure to high levels of UV radiation caused copepods to retain pigments in the absence of a
predation threat. When exposed to predation threat, they reduced their pigmentation regardless of UV level.
Thus, they ranked predation as a threat more severe than UV radiation. Reducing the protective pigment level in
response to predation in a situation in which UV radiation is high may, however, lead to higher mortality.
radiation and whether they respond with changes in pigmentation, vertical migration, or both. We found weak
vertical migration among copepods in response to UV stress, and this response was not apparently influenced by
predation risk. Exposure to high levels of UV radiation caused copepods to retain pigments in the absence of a
predation threat. When exposed to predation threat, they reduced their pigmentation regardless of UV level.
Thus, they ranked predation as a threat more severe than UV radiation. Reducing the protective pigment level in
response to predation in a situation in which UV radiation is high may, however, lead to higher mortality.
Department/s
- Division aquatic ecology
- Centre for Analysis and Synthesis
- Aquatic Ecology
Publishing year
2009
Language
English
Pages
483-491
Publication/Series
Limnology and Oceanography
Volume
54
Issue
2
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
ASLO
Topic
- Ecology
Status
Published
Research group
- Aquatic Ecology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1939-5590