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

      Nature
      Animals, Daphnia, physiology, radiation effects, Marine Biology, Melanins, Ultraviolet Rays, Zooplankton

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          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 fish; however, it is unclear why daily zooplankton migration has been maintained in fishless areas. In addition to predation, ultraviolet radiation-a hazardous factor for zooplankton in the surface layers of marine and freshwater environments-has been suspected as a possible cause of daytime downward migration. 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 light. 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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          Optical properties of the clearest natural waters (200-800 nm).

          A new UV submersible spectroradiometer has been employed to determine the diffuse attenuation coefficient for irradiance in the clearest natural waters [K(w)(lambda)] with emphasis on the spectral region from 300 to 400 nm. K(w)(lambda) can be related to the inherent optical properties of pure water, in particular the total absorption coefficient a(w)(lambda) and the molecular scattering coefficient b(m)(lambda), by means of equations derived from radiative transfer theory. We present an analysis showing that limiting values of K(w)(lambda) can be estimated from a(w)(lambda) and vice versa. Published a(w)(lambda) data, which show discrepancies much larger than their estimated accuracies, are briefly reviewed and then compared, via our analysis, with K(w)(lambda) data (our own new and previously published data as well as relevant data of others). This comparative analysis and new data allow a consistent and accurate set of optical properties for the clearest natural waters and for pure fresh water and saltwater to be estimated from 300 to 800 nm.
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            Effects of Light and Turbidity on the Reactive Distance of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

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              Vertical migration in zooplankton as a predator avoidance mechanism1

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                11452307
                10.1038/35083567

                Chemistry
                Animals,Daphnia,physiology,radiation effects,Marine Biology,Melanins,Ultraviolet Rays,Zooplankton
                Chemistry
                Animals, Daphnia, physiology, radiation effects, Marine Biology, Melanins, Ultraviolet Rays, Zooplankton

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