Light and diel vertical migration: spectral sensitivity and light avoidance by Mysis relicta

Ambient light levels determine the extent of diel vertical migration of many species including mysid shrimps. Light levels perceived by an organism depend on the intensity of light at the surface, the extinction of light through the water, and the sensitivity of the organism's light receptors. Each of these processes has spectral characteristics that should be taken into account when measuring perceived light levels. We used microspectrophotometry to determine that Mysis relicta has a single pigment with the characteristics of rhodopsin based on vitamin A1 and a peak sensitivity of 520 nm. Similar to the use of the lux (scaled to human vision), we give ambient light levels scaled to the mysid's visual spectrum in mylux units. Mysid distributions were observed with acoustics around two artificial light sources in Cayuga Lake, New York. Mysids avoided light levels of 3.4 × 10-7 to 2.1 × 10-6 mylux. Similar light levels limited their vertical distributions during the night in Lake Ontario and during the day in Cayuga Lake. Of standard light sensors available, lux meters are more appropriate than photosynthetically active radiation meters for determining light levels perceived by mysids.

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An evaluation of light-mediated vertical migration of fish based on hydroacoustic analysis of the diel vertical movements of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f95-051 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 504-511 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

A. R. Appenzeller ◽

W. C. Leggett

Keyword(s):

Vertical Migration ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

Fish Population ◽

Osmerus Mordax ◽

Ambient Light ◽

Rainbow Smelt ◽

Vertical Movements ◽

Light Levels ◽

Vertical Distributions ◽

Lower Light

We used hydroacoustics to examine diel changes in the vertical distributions of rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax, in Lake Memphremagog, Quebec/Vermont. Our objective was to evaluate hypotheses linking diel vertical movements of fish with light levels. Smelt distributions were also monitored from June through October (1988 and 1990) to evaluate seasonal changes in their behavior. A strong relationship (r2 = 0.83) between ambient light intensities and the upper fish layer in the water column was observed. Fish depth was also related to the depth of the thermocline during the night and when surface water temperatures were > 18 °C. The most characteristic feature was the strong avoidance of light levels > 0.1 μW/cm2. However, we found considerable variation in lower light levels experienced by the whole fish population. The results suggest that existing models of anti-predation behavior relating light and fish depth are consistent, with some limitations, with patterns of diel vertical migration in rainbow smelt.

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Densities and diel vertical migration of Mysis relicta in Lake Superior: a comparison of optical plankton counter and net-based approaches

SIL Proceedings 1922-2010 ◽

10.1080/03680770.2009.11902279 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 957-963

Author(s):

Olaf P. Jensen ◽

Peder M. Yurista ◽

Thomas R. Hrabik ◽

Jason D. Stockwell

Keyword(s):

Vertical Migration ◽

Diel Vertical Migration ◽

Lake Superior ◽

Mysis Relicta

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Empirical evaluation of predator-driven diel vertical migration in Lake Superior

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f09-198 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 473-485 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Jason D. Stockwell ◽

Thomas R. Hrabik ◽

Olaf P. Jensen ◽

Daniel L. Yule ◽

Matthew Balge

Keyword(s):

Vertical Migration ◽

Diel Vertical Migration ◽

Lake Superior ◽

Empirical Evaluation ◽

Salvelinus Namaycush ◽

Seasonal Patterns ◽

Mysis Relicta ◽

Size Dependent ◽

Coregonus Artedi ◽

Using Data

Recent studies on Lake Superior suggest that diel vertical migration (DVM) of prey (generalized Coregonus spp.) may be influenced by the density of predatory siscowet ( Salvelinus namaycush ). We empirically evaluated this hypothesis using data from acoustic, midwater trawl, and bottom trawl sampling at eight Lake Superior sites during three seasons in 2005 and a subset of sites in 2006. We expected the larger-bodied cisco ( Coregonus artedi ) to exhibit a shallower DVM compared with the smaller-bodied kiyi ( Coregonus kiyi ). Although DVM of kiyi and cisco were consistent with expectations of DVM as a size-dependent, predator-mediated process, we found no relationship between siscowet density and the magnitude of DVM of either coregonid. Cisco appear to have a size refuge from siscowet predation. Kiyi and siscowet co-occur in demersal habitat > 150 m during the day, where visual predation is unlikely, suggesting predator avoidance is not a factor in the daytime distribution of kiyi. Seasonal patterns of kiyi DVM were consistent with reported DVM of their primary prey Mysis relicta . Our results suggest that consideration of nonvisual foraging, rather than light-based foraging theory (i.e., the antipredation window), is necessary to understand the processes driving DVM in deepwater systems.

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Acoustic Analysis of Diel Vertical Migration Behavior of Mysis relicta and Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) within Okanagan Lake, British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f91-010 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 67-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

David A. Levy

Keyword(s):

Water Column ◽

Vertical Migration ◽

Diel Vertical Migration ◽

Acoustic Analysis ◽

Oncorhynchus Nerka ◽

Target Strength ◽

Migration Behavior ◽

Mysis Relicta ◽

Dual Beam ◽

Diel Vertical Migrations

Dual-beam acoustic surveys of Okanagan Lake suggested active diel vertical migrations of Mysis relicta and kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) within the pelagic zone. Mysis relicta were situated between 90–150 m during the day and migrated upwards into the thermocline region of the water column at night. Two groups of kokanee targets were detected. The first undertook a diel vertical migration and coalesced at dusk with a second, shallow-oriented group of targets. Daytime target strength estimates taken while the two groups were vertically segregated in the water column suggested an 8–12 db lower target strength of the deeper group. The results provide acoustic evidence for a smaller body size in the deeper group and the occurrence of an ontogenetic shift in diel migratory behavior of kokanee within Okanagan Lake. Diel comparisons of depth distribution suggested spatial segregation of Mysis and kokanee over much of the diel cycle.

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Diel vertical migration in the Lake Superior pelagic community. II. Modeling trade-offs at an intermediate trophic level

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f06-125 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 63 (10) ◽

pp. 2296-2307 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Olaf P Jensen ◽

Thomas R Hrabik ◽

Steven J.D. Martell ◽

Carl J Walters ◽

James F Kitchell

Keyword(s):

Predation Risk ◽

Trophic Level ◽

Vertical Migration ◽

Diel Vertical Migration ◽

Lake Trout ◽

Lake Superior ◽

High Growth ◽

Growth Trajectory ◽

Mysis Relicta ◽

Trade Offs

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain diel vertical migration (DVM); however, they have generally been applied to DVM behavior of a single trophic level. We evaluate the costs (predation risk) and benefits (foraging rate and growth rate potential) of different hypothetical and observed DVM trajectories for a three-level pelagic food chain in Lake Superior containing opossum shrimp (Mysis relicta), deepwater ciscoes (Coregonus spp.), and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Lake trout appear to be maximizing foraging and growth rates by tracking vertically migrating ciscoes, while the DVM trajectories of ciscoes suggests a trade-off between predation risk and growth. For ciscoes, two alternative DVM trajectories both minimize the ratio of risk to growth: a shallow trajectory that follows low light levels down to 80 m during the day and a deep trajectory (below 150 m) that tracks highest Mysis densities. Observed cisco DVM trajectories appear to follow the shallow high risk – high growth trajectory in 2001, but switch to the deep, low risk – low growth trajectory in 2004 when lake trout density was higher and the density of ciscoes was lower.

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