Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC07 Spatial and Temporal Connections

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Domer, N, T, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, USA, ndomer@gac.edu

Hamp, A, A, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, USA, ahamp@gac.edu

Butler, N, M, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, USA, nbutler@gac.edu

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND DIURNAL SWARM DISPERSAL BY THE CORAL REEL CRUSTACEAN MYSIDIUM GRACILE

Zooplankton aggregations have important implications for trophic dynamics in aquatic environments. Home site preference has been well documented for mysid aggregations in the Mediterranean, Japan, and Australia. Here we present the results of a study investigating home site permanence of Mysidium gracile on a shallow coral reef in Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Swarms were monitored along permanent transects to establish patterns of site loyalty. Remote underwater camera observations and light traps were used to determine if swarms dispersed from their home sites at night. Results indicate that, although these mysids exhibit marked home site permanence during the day, they disperse at night from their home sites on coral outcroppings to open, sandy areas of the reef.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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