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Absolute light intensity vs. rate of relative change in light intensity: the role of light in the vertical migration of Chaoborus punctipennis larvae

Publication ,  Journal Article
Swift, MC; Forward, RB
Published in: Bulletin of Marine Science
January 1, 1988

Fourth-instar Chaoborus punctipennis larvae exhibited a light-induced positive geotaxis at high light intensity (>1.3.10-5.Wm-2) and a light-induced negative geotaxis at low light intensity (<3.10-6.Wm-2) when stimulated with light filtered to match their spectral sensitivity. Phototaxis was not observed under conditions which simulated the natural underwater angular light distribution. In the field, larvae ascended near the time of sunset and descended near sunrise. At dusk the population peak occurred at each sampling depth when the average light intensity there was 3.10-7.Wm-2. At dawn the population peak migrated down just ahead of the threshold intensity for positive geotaxis (1.3.10-5.Wm-2). The migration pattern can be explained as a simple response to absolute light intensity. Upward and downward movement of the population occurs at ambient light intensities just below the respective "threshold' intensities for negative and positive geotaxis. The initiating cue is absolute light intensity and the orienting cue is gravity. -from Authors

Duke Scholars

Published In

Bulletin of Marine Science

ISSN

0007-4977

Publication Date

January 1, 1988

Volume

43

Issue

3

Start / End Page

604 / 619

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 37 Earth sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
  • 04 Earth Sciences
 

Citation

Published In

Bulletin of Marine Science

ISSN

0007-4977

Publication Date

January 1, 1988

Volume

43

Issue

3

Start / End Page

604 / 619

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 37 Earth sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
  • 04 Earth Sciences