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

浮游动物聚集物，如桡足类和Mysid群，代表了浮游生物斑块从主要由有机体的行为控制到主要由物理聚集机制控制的连续统一体的一端。通过更好地了解影响行为控制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楚。通过了解浮游动物群体和群居行为的适应价值，将揭示斑块对浮游生物营养动态的潜在影响。这项研究将集中在关于桡足类群体的几个悬而未决的问题上，并开始研究斑腿蜂群的求学行为。在红树林道具根生境中，浮游动物的聚集行为有两个很好的例子：桡足类Dioithona oculata的成群行为和Mysid Colhumine的成群行为。这项研究的一个目标是确定眼金龟在黎明时分返回红树林栖息地所使用的感官信息。在珊瑚礁附近也发现了大量的眼球藻，那里的环境和光学条件与红树林栖息地有很大的不同。将对珊瑚礁附近的蜂群进行现场研究，并对这些环境中影响蜂群形成和维持的因素进行量化。Mysidium Columine是一种全浮游的Mysidium Columine，在红树林附近的阴凉地区活动。这是一种发育良好的复眼，被认为视力有限，但运动知觉高度发达。视觉在该物种的求学行为中的作用将通过测定这种Mysid的视觉阈值和视觉敏锐度来进行调查。学校教育作为一种反掠夺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.