Abstract
Calanoid copepods typically exhibit escape reactions to hydrodynamic stimuli such as those generated by the approach of a predator. During the summers of 2000, 2001 and 2004, two small calanoid species, Temora turbinata Dana, 1849 and Paracalanus parvus Claus, 1863 were exposed to a visual predatory fish, the blenny Acanthemblemaria spinosa Metzelaar, 1919, and their predator–prey interactions were recorded using both high-speed and standard videographic techniques. Copepod escape reaction components, including swimming pattern, reactive distance, turning rate, and jump kinetics, were quantified from individual predation events using motion analysis techniques. Among the observed escape reaction components, differences were noted between the species’ swimming patterns prior to attack and their response latencies. Temora turbinata was a continuous cruiser and P. parvus exhibited a hop-and-sink swimming pattern. During periods of sinking, P. parvus stopped beating its appendages, which presumably reduced any self-generated hydrodynamic signals and increased perceptual abilities to detect an approaching predator. Response latency was determined for each copepod species using a hydrodynamic stimulus produced by a 1 ms acoustic signal. Response latencies of T. turbinata were significantly longer than those of P. parvus. Despite some apparent perceptual advantages of P. parvus, the blenny successfully captured both species by modifying its attack behavior for the targeted prey.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation through Grant OCE-9910608 and The University of Texas Marine Science Institute Lund Fellowship. We thank R.D. Clarke for collecting the blennies and his assistance in their care and maintenance. We are grateful to P.H. Lenz and D.K. Hartline who shared both their advice and knowledge regarding sensory abilities of calanoid copepods. Technical assistance was provided by C. Hyatt. Guidelines of The University of Texas Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee were followed in the use of the blennies. This is The University of Texas Marine Science Institute contribution number 1418.
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Communicated by J.P. Grassle, New Brunswick
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Waggett, R.J., Buskey, E.J. Calanoid copepod escape behavior in response to a visual predator. Mar Biol 150, 599–607 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0384-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0384-3