Marine Ecology Progress Series
MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps283199
copiedIndividual variability in the swimming behavior of the sub-tropical copepod Oncaea venusta (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida)
ABSTRACT: The swimming behavior of males and females of the seldom studied sub-tropical copepod Oncaea venusta was studied using scale-dependent (swimming speed and net-to-gross displacement ratio) and scale-independent (fractal dimension) metrics.The scale-dependent metrics were characterized by: (1) a considerable intra- and inter-individual variability that prevented the identification of any specific behavior and (2) a strong dependence on the number of data points available in each individualpath. Conversely, the scale-independent metric (fractal dimensional) resolved reduced intra- and inter-individual variability and independence from the length of the swimming paths, leading to the identification of 4 groups of distinct swimming patterns.While additional behavioral experiments are needed to ensure the relevance and the generality of the present results, behavioral fractal analysis nevertheless demonstrates a promising ability to elucidate the complexity of zooplankton behavior.
KEYWORDS
Laurent Seuront (Corresponding Author)
- Ecosystem Complexity Research Group, Station Marine de Wimereux, CNRS UMR 8013 ELICO, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, 28 avenue Foch, 62930 Wimereux, France
- School of Biological Sciences, FlindersUniversity, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia
Jiang-Shiou Hwang (Co-author)
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan 202, Republic of China
Li-Chun Tseng (Co-author)
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan 202, Republic of China
François G. Schmitt (Co-author)
- Ecosystem Complexity Research Group, Station Marine de Wimereux, CNRS UMR 8013 ELICO, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, 28 avenue Foch, 62930 Wimereux, France
Sami Souissi (Co-author)
- Ecosystem Complexity Research Group, Station Marine de Wimereux, CNRS UMR 8013 ELICO, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, 28 avenue Foch, 62930 Wimereux, France
Chong-Kim Wong (Co-author)
- Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong,Shatin, Hong Kong, China