Fields, D.M. & J. Yen. (1996). The escape behavior of Pleuromamma xiphias from a quantifiable fluid mechanical disturbance. Chapter 3. In: Lenz, P.H., D.K. Hartline, J.E. Purcell & D.L. Macmillan (eds.). Zooplankton: Sensory Ecology and Physiology. Vol. 1. Gordan and Breach Publishers, Amsterdam. :323-340.

86822

Fields, D.M. & J. Yen

1996

:323-340.

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Pelagic copepods are subject to predation throughout much of their planktonic life. As a result, predator detection and avoidance are crucial to the survival of individuals. By using a quantifiable fluid mechanical disturbance, the fluid characteristic needed to elicit an escape reaction in Pleuromamma xiphias (Calanoida: Metridinidae) was isolated. Four different siphon configurations were used to spatially separate regions of maximum flow speed and acceleration from regions with maximum shear surrounding the siphons. The patterns of escapes indicate that the spatial variation in fluid velocity is the proximate cue which elicits the escape reaction in P. xiphias. An average threshold shear value of 15 /s was needed to elicit the escape reaction. These results suggest that small scale fluid motion, such as those caused by a predator’s feeding current, with shear values greater than the 15 /s are more likely to initiate an escape reaction in P. xiphias.

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