Zooplankton vertical migration and plasticity of pigmentation arising from simultaneous UV and predation threats
Författare
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.
Publiceringsår
2009
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
483-491
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Limnology and Oceanography
Volym
54
Issue
2
Länkar
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
ASLO
Ämne
- Ecology
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Aquatic Ecology
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1939-5590