Diel vertical migration (DVM) is a behavior observed in many zooplankton species, where these organisms move vertically in the water column on a daily basis. This phenomenon is commonly seen in response to changes in light and environmental conditions.
There are several reasons why diel vertical migration occurs in the majority of zooplankton:
It's important to note that while DVM is a common behavior among zooplankton, not all species exhibit the same migration patterns, and the reasons for migration can vary based on the specific ecological conditions of their habitat. Additionally, DVM can have ecological implications for the entire marine food web, as it affects predator-prey interactions, nutrient cycling, and the distribution of organisms in the water column.
Diel vertical migration (DVM) occurs in the majority of zooplankton because it is a survival strategy that allows them to avoid predation and optimize feeding. During the day, zooplankton remain in deeper waters to avoid visual predators, such as fish, that are more active near the surface. At night, they migrate to the surface to feed on phytoplankton, which are more abundant in the upper layers of the water column due to photosynthesis. This behavior also allows zooplankton to avoid being eaten by visual predators that are less active at night, such as birds. Therefore, DVM is an important adaptation that allows zooplankton to balance their feeding and predator avoidance needs.
Dear Quasim,
I agree with the previous answers. Indeed, these kind of vertical migrations are caused not only by the light variations but also by other abiotic factors such as: differences in hydrostatic pressure, thermal variations and shifts in the concentration of carbon dioxide along the water column.
Nicola
DVM is observed in marine and freshwater planktonic animals and results from behavioral responses to light changes at sunrise and sunset. Animals ascend to feed and descend to avoid predators and ultraviolet irradiation. DVM is a phenotypically plastic behavior that often varies in magnitude with predator abundance. The proximate basis of this plasticity involves altering light-mediated zooplankton swimming behavior by chemical cues from predators. Any horizontal displacement during DVM depends upon current flows at different depths.
In contrast, STST is used for horizontal transport and is common among invertebrates and fishes in coastal and estuarine areas. An ebb-tide carrier is used for movement out of an estuary or offshore, whereas a flood-tide page is used for training in the opposite direction. For life cycle stages such as larvae, which have limited swimming abilities, transport by tidal currents is an efficient method for rapid horizontal movement. However, even large fishes that can swim against tidal currents undergo STST, which can lead to a considerable reduction in the energy necessary for horizontal direction. STST commonly occurs only at night, probably an adaptation to avoid visual predators.
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