Open AccessCloud shadows drive vertical migrations of deep-dwelling marine life
Author(s) -
Melissa M. Omand,
Deborah K. Steinberg,
Karen Stamieszkin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2022977118
Subject(s) - diel vertical migration , predation , shoaling and schooling , daytime , oceanography , environmental science , dusk , photosynthetically active radiation , zooplankton , geology , atmospheric sciences , biology , ecology , photosynthesis , botany
Significance Our study provides evidence that, in addition to diel vertical migration, zooplankton residing at >300-m depth during the day perform high-frequency, vertical migrations due to light modulation by clouds. Using a water-following framework and measurements and modeling of the twilight zone light field, we isolated the detailed phototactic response and show that some twilight zone animals are considerably more active than previously thought, with a cumulative distance traveled of more than one-third of that for diel migration. The increased movement increases predation risk and has implications for the metabolic requirements of these animals in the food-limited deep sea.