MEPS 170:287-290 (1998) - doi:10.3354/meps170287

Schooling of the vertically migrating mesopelagic fish Maurolicus muelleri in light summer nights

Stein Kaartvedt^1,*, Tor Knutsen², Jens Christian Holst²

¹Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1064 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
²Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, N-5024 Bergen, Norway

*E-mail: stein.kaartvedt@bio.uio.no

ABSTRACT: Vertically migrating Maurolicus muelleri arrested their nocturnal ascent below the peak zooplankton concentrations during light summer nights at 62°N. At 69°N, the behavior was further modified, with M. muelleri forming schools in the upper layer at night. We suggest that M. muelleri used schooling as an antipredator strategy due to the absence of dark periods.

KEY WORDS: Planktivorous fish · Acoustic scattering layer · DVM · Midnight sun

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MEPS 170:287-290 (1998) - doi:10.3354/meps170287

Schooling of the vertically migrating mesopelagic fish Maurolicus muelleri in light summer nights

Stein Kaartvedt1,*, Tor Knutsen2, Jens Christian Holst2

Stein Kaartvedt^1,*, Tor Knutsen², Jens Christian Holst²