Light-dependent behavior of abundant zooplankton species in the White Sea

Light-dependent behavior of the abundant zooplankton species inhabiting the White Sea were studied experimentally during: (i) the spring equinox (March); (ii) the polar day (late May to June), (iii) August, 17/7 h day-night light cycle, (iv) the fall equinox (October). Behavioral patterns were investigated for eight species of Copepoda (Metridia longa, Calanus glacialis, Pseudocalanus minutus, Oithona similis, Oncaea borealis, Temora longicornis, Centropages hamatus, Acartia spp.), one Cladocera species (Evadne nordmanni) and Polychaeta larvae. The hypothesis was tested that attraction to (or repulsion from) light is the primary mechanism involved in the vertical migration of zooplankton with different trophic characteristics in relation to phytoplankton-rich upper water layer. The impact of red (680 nm), yellow (560 nm) and UV (280 nm) light was tested. The animals were acclimated to two food conditions: natural seawater (satiated) and filtered (1 μm) seawater (hungry). The positive light response of predominantly herbivorous and omnivorous copepods and cladocerans inhabiting the photic water layer corresponds with their distribution and their food vertical distribution. Hungry animals display the strongest responses to light. Light effects on behavior were weak in deep-dwelling 0. borealis. We suggest that red and yellow light is an indicator of the photic layer (high food concentration) to zooplankton groups that feed on phytoplankton. In contrast, diapausing (e.g. non-feeding) copepods totally avoid light, especially when they hibernate in the aphotic layer. We hypothesize that there is a relationship between the light response of the zooplankton, their trophic characteristics, migration behavior (diel and ontogenetic) and the water layer occupied.