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The impact of ultraviolet radiation on the vertical distribution of zooplankton of the genus Daphnia

Nature volume 412, pages 69–72 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The vertical migration of zooplankton into lower and darker water strata by day is generally explained by the avoidance of visually orienting predators, mainly fish1,2,3,4; however, it is unclear why daily zooplankton migration has been maintained in fishless areas5. In addition to predation, ultraviolet radiation—a hazardous factor for zooplankton in the surface layers of marine and freshwater environments6,7,8—has been suspected as a possible cause of daytime downward migration9. Here we test this hypothesis by studying several Daphnia species, both in a controlled laboratory system and under natural sunlight in an outdoor system. We selected Daphnia species that differed in their pigmentation as both melanin and carotenoids have been shown to protect Daphnia from ultraviolet light10,11. All Daphnia species escaped into significantly deeper water layers under ultraviolet radiation. The extent to which the daphnids responded to this radiation was inversely linked to their pigmentation, which reduced ultraviolet transmission. These results suggest that ultraviolet avoidance is an additional factor in explaining daytime downward migration. Synergistic benefits might have shaped the evolution of this complex behaviour.

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Figure 1: Spectral irradiation in mesocosms with (test) and without (control) ultraviolet radiation.
Figure 2: Results from laboratory experiments.
Figure 3: Spectral transmission of exuviae from transparent and melanized D. pulex measured in 1-nm intervals from 280 to 780 nm.

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Acknowledgements

We thank L. J. Weider for providing arctic D. pulex. We also thank A. Agrawal, W. Gabriel, S. Gießler, A. F. Sell, B. Schierwater, T. Vines, C. E. Williamson, W. C. Kerfoot and L. J. Weider for comments and advice on earlier versions of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Ecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Zoological Institute, Karlstraße 25, München, D-80333, Germany

    Stephan C. Rhode, Markus Pawlowski & Ralph Tollrian

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  1. Stephan C. Rhode
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Correspondence to Ralph Tollrian.

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Rhode, S., Pawlowski, M. & Tollrian, R. The impact of ultraviolet radiation on the vertical distribution of zooplankton of the genus Daphnia. Nature 412, 69–72 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35083567

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