Vertical migration, feeding and colouration in the mesopelagic shrimp Sergestes arcticus.
Intraspecific variation in vertical distribution, timing of vertical migration, and colouration of the mesopelagic shrimp Sergestes arcticus were studied in the >400 m deep part of Masfjorden, Norway. Very few individuals were caught in the upper strata during daytime, and larger individuals occurred deeper during the day than smaller ones. Vertical migration was prominent and no overall trend of increasing length with depth was found at night. Small individuals arrived in the upper layers earlier than larger ones. Animal colouration assessed by digital photography revealed significant variance in individual redness. Depth of capture was the most important factor explaining colouration, with increasing degree of redness with depth. Assessing the gut fullness of the transparent shrimps provided a rapid way of estimating feeding activity and showed that feeding took place mainly at night.
Vestheim
Hege
H
Department of Biology , University of Bergen , Jahnebakken 5, PO Box 7800, N-5020 Bergen , Norway.
Kaartvedt
Stein
S