Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of age and food availability on diel vertical migration of Calanus pacificus

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Age-specific differences in diel vertical migration behavior of Calanus pacificus were investigated in a 58 d (30 April–26 June, 1981) experiment in the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Deep Tank, La Jolla, California, USA; the experiment spanned three successive generations of copepods. The onset of vertical migration behavior occurred in the first feeding stage, Nauplius III. The amplitude of vertical migration gradually increased with age, becoming maximal in the late copepodite stages. Night depths remained constant with age while daytime depths increased. The migratory behavior of late copepodite stages was influenced by food availability. When phytoplankton was abundant and individual ingestion rates were high, copepodites performed high-amplitude migrations. As food availability declined, however, and the competition for food increased, migration amplitudes decreased and then ceased altogether so that copepodites remained in the relatively food-rich surface waters at all times. We suggest that hunger is the primary factor controlling vertical migration behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Balch, N., C. M. Boyd and M. M. Mullin: Large-scale tower tank systems. Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 173, 13–21 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohrer, R.: Experimental studies on vertical migration. In: Evolution and ecology of zooplankton communities, pp 111–121. Ed. by W. Kerfoot. Hanover, New Hampshire: University Press of New England 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, C. M., S. L. Smith and T. J. Cowles Grazing patterns of copepods in the upwelling system off Peru. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25, 583–596 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigelow, H. B.: Plankton of the offshore waters of the Gulf of Maine. Bull. Bur. Fish., Wash. 60, 1–509 (1926)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brook, G.: Report on the herring fishery of Loch Fyne and the adjacent districts during 1885. Rep. Fishery Bd Scotl. 4, 47–61 (1886)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, G. L.: Diurnal migration of plankton in the Gulf of Maine and its correlation with changes in submarine irradiation. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 65, 402–436 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, G. L.: Further observations on the diurnal migration of copepods in the Gulf of Maine. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 67, 432–455 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuvier, Le Baron: La règne animale, The animal kingdom, Vol. 13. 540 pp. London: Whittaker, Teacher & Co. 1834

    Google Scholar 

  • Elster, H. J.: Über die Populationsdynamik von Eudiaptomus gracilis Sars und Heterocope borealis Fischer im Bodensee-Obersee. Arch. Hydrobiol. (Beih. Falkau-Arb.) 20, 546–614 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Enright, J. T. and W. M. Hamner: Vertical diurnal migration and endogenous rhythmicity. Science, N.Y. 157, 937–941 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Enright, J. T. and H.-W. Honegger: Diurnal vertical migration: adaptive significance and timing. Part 2. Test of the model: details of timing. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22, 873–886 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eppley, R. W., R. W. Holmes and J. D. H. Strickland: Sinking rates of marine phytoplankton measured with a fluorometer. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 1, 191–208 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Esterly, C. O.: Diurnal migrations of Calanus finmarchicus in the San Diego region during 1909. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr. 4, 140–151 (1911)

    Google Scholar 

  • Esterly, C. O.: The occurrence and vertical distribution of the Copepoda of the San Diego region. Univ. Calif. Publs Zool. 16, 381–392 (1912)

    Google Scholar 

  • Esterly, C. O.: Reactions of various plankton animals with reference to their diurnal migrations. Univ. Calif. Publs Zool. 19, 1–83 (1919)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farran, G. P.: Vertical distribution of plankton (Sagitta, Calanus, and Metridia) off the south coast of Ireland. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 51, 121–136 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner, A. C.: Vertical distribution in Calanus finmarchicus. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 18, 575–610 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, A. C.: The open sea, 335 pp London: Collins 1956

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, A. C. and E. R. Gunther: The plankton of the South Georgia whaling ground and adjacent waters, 1926–27. ‘Discovery’ Rep. 11, 1–456 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, A. C. and W. N. Paton: Experiments on the vertical migration of plankton animals. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 26, 467–526 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J. E.: The role of endogenous rhythms in vertical migration. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 43, 153–166 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kikuchi, K.: Studies on the vertical distribution of the plankton crustacea I. A comparison of the vertical distribution of the plankton crustacea in six lakes of middle Japan in relation to the underwater illumination and temperature. Rec. oceanogr. Wks Japan 9, 63–85 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Langford, R. R.: Diurnal and seasonal changes in the distribution of limnetic crustacea of Lake Nipissing Ontario. Univ. Toronto Stud. biol. Ser. 45, 1–42 (1938)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manteufel, B. P.: Vertical migration of sea organisms. [In Russ.] Trudy Inst. Morf. Zhivot. 13, 62–117 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S. M. and A. P. Orr: The relation of the plankton to some chemical and physical factors in the Clyde Sea area. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 14, 837–868 (1927)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S. M. and A. P. Orr: The biology of a marine copepod, 195 pp. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd 1955

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls, A. G.: On the biology of Calanus finmarchicus. III. Vertical distribution and diurnal migration in the Clyde Sea area. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 19, 139–164 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearre, S., Jr.: Vertical migration and feeding in Sagitta elegans Verrill. Ecology 54, 300–314 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, A. L.: Responses of Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus) to changes in hydrostatic pressure. Nature, Lond. 194, 1189–1190 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ringelberg, J.: The positively phototactic reaction of Daphnia magna Straus. Neth. J. Sea Res. 2, 319–406 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudjakov, J. A.: The possible causes of diel vertical migrations of planktonic animals. Mar. Biol. 6, 98–105 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, F. S.: The vertical distribution of plankton in the sea. Biol. Rev. 2, 213–262 (1927)

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, F. S.: The vertical distribution of marine macroplankton. VII. Observations on the behavior of Calanus finmarchicus. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 15, 429–454 (1928)

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, F. S.: The vertical distribution of marine macroplankton. XII. Some observations on the vertical distribution of Calanus finmarchicus in relation to light intensity. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 19, 569–584 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuman, F. R. and C. J. Lorenzen: Quantitative degradation of chlorophyll by a marine herbivore. Limnol. Oceanogr. 20, 580–586 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Singarajh, K. V., J. Moyse and E. W. Knight-Jones: The effect of feeding upon the phototactic behavior of cirripede nauplii. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 1, 144–153 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele, J. H., D. M. Farmer and E. W. Henderson: Circulation and temperature structure in large enclosures. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 34, 1095–1104 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd ed. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 1–310 (1972)

  • Vinogradov, M. E.: Vertical distribution of the oceanic zooplankton, 339 pp. Jerusalem: Keter 1970. (Israel Program for Scintific Translations)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weissmann, A.: Das Tierleben im Bodensee. Schr. Gesch. Bodensees u. Umgebung 7, 1–31 (1877)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaret, T. M. and J. S. Suffern: Vertical migration in zooplankton as a predator avoidance mechanism. Limnol. Oceanogr. 21, 804–813 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Resources, A-018, University of California, San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, California, USA

    M. Huntley & E. R. Brooks

Authors
  1. M. Huntley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. R. Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by N. D. Holland, La Jolla

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huntley, M., Brooks, E.R. Effects of age and food availability on diel vertical migration of Calanus pacificus . Mar. Biol. 71, 23–31 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396989

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396989

Keywords

Search

Navigation