Aggregative Behavior of Zooplankton: In Situ and Laboratory Studies of Copepod Swarms and Mysid Schools

浮游动物集群，如桡足类和糠虾群代表了浮游生物斑块连续体的一端，从主要由生物体行为控制的浮游生物斑块连续体到主要由物理聚集机制控制的浮游生物斑块连续体。 通过更好地理解影响行为控制的浮游动物聚集的因素，行为对其他形式的斑块的潜在贡献的范围将变得更加清晰。 通过了解浮游动物成群和集群行为的适应价值，将揭示斑块对浮游动物营养动态的潜在影响。 本研究将针对桡足类群集的几个未解问题，并开始糠虾群集行为的研究。 在红树林的主根生境中，浮游动物有两个很好的聚集行为的例子：桡足类Dioithona oculata的群集行为和糠虾Mysidium columbine的集群行为。 本研究的目的之一是确定D.在黎明时分回到红树林栖息地。 D.珊瑚礁附近亦有眼水母群，因为珊瑚礁的环境和光学条件与红树林生境截然不同。 将对珊瑚礁附近的虫群进行实地研究，并对影响这些环境中虫群形成和维持的因素进行量化。 Mysidium columbine是一种全浮游糠虾，聚集在红树林附近的阴影区域。 它发育良好的复眼被认为具有有限的视觉灵敏度，但高度发达的运动感知。 通过测定这种糠虾的视觉阈值和视敏度，将研究视觉在该物种学校行为中的作用。 学校教育作为一种反捕食手段的适应价值和学校教育行为的代谢成本也将被调查。

Zooplankton aggregations such as copepod swarms and mysid schools represent one end of a continuum of plankton patchiness from those controlled mainly by the behavior of the organisms to those controlled mainly by physical concentrating mechanisms. By achieving a better understanding of the factors influencing behaviorally controlled zooplankton aggregations, the range of potential contributions of behavior to other forms of patchiness will become clearer. By understanding the adaptive value of swarming and schooling behavior in zooplankton, the potential effects of patchiness on plankton trophic dynamics will be revealed. This study will focus on several unanswered questions regarding copepod swarms and begin studies of schooling behavior of mysids. In mangrove prop root habitats there are two excellent examples of aggregative behavior in zooplankton: the swarming behavior of the copepod Dioithona oculata and the schooling behavior of the mysid Mysidium columbine. One objective of this study is to determine the sensory information used by D. oculata to find its way back to the mangrove habitat at dawn. D. oculata swarms are also found near coral reefs, where environmental and optical conditions are quite different from mangrove habitats. Swarms near coral reefs will be studied in situ, and the factors affecting swarm formation and maintenance in these environments will be quantified. Mysidium columbine is a holoplanktonic mysid that schools in shaded areas near mangroves. It's well developed compound eyes are thought to have limited visual acuity but highly developed movement perception. The role of vision in the schooling behavior of this species will be investigated by determining the visual threshold and visual acuity of this mysid. The adaptive value of schooling as an anti-predation device and metabolic costs of schooling behavior will also be investigated.