Plankton Ecology Lab
Zooplankton in Tampa Bay
We are currently investigating the zooplankton population in Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River. Monthly sampling occurs along a transect at five stations within Old Tampa Bay. Additionally, sampling occurs from the UT campus of the Hillsborough River.
We are assessing zooplankton composition, abundance and distribution throughout the year with the goal of comparing current trends with historic data sets.
We are assessing zooplankton composition, abundance and distribution throughout the year with the goal of comparing current trends with historic data sets.
Zooplankton Behavior and Sensory Perception
Zooplankton play an important role within oceanic food webs by linking the energy they derive from the phytoplankton they graze on up to higher trophic levels like fish and jellyfish. Within zooplankton communities, small crustaceans called copepods are usually the dominant component. Due to their abundance, copepod grazing plays a
role in the regulation of phytoplankton communities. In turn, many oceanic carnivores, including fishes,
ctenophores, cnidarians, squids, and whales, prey upon copepods. These factors
illustrate the significance of copepods in maintaining the balance of oceanic
ecosystems as well as indirectly influencing fisheries.
Copepod survival depends upon their ability to detect and escape from predators. As such, copepods have evolved a variety of sensory mechanisms and behavioral tactics in an effort to reduce their predation risk. One such behavioral tactic is their characteristic escape reaction when exposed to appropriate photic, tactile, or hydrodynamic stimuli. During a typical escape reaction, copepods will respond within milliseconds by retracting antennules towards the prosome, forming a streamlined shape and performing a series of synchronized power strokes with their swimming legs. Copepods are propelled forward several body lengths in distance at velocities that often exceed 100 body lengths/s. Given their body size is usually on the order of millimeters, this means copepods are one of the fastest organisms on the planet.
I am interested in examining the escape behavior of copepods in response to natural stimuli (i.e., predators) and repeatable, quantifiable stimuli (i.e., mechanical derived) in an effort to explore and understand the amazing nuances of copepod survival.
Copepod survival depends upon their ability to detect and escape from predators. As such, copepods have evolved a variety of sensory mechanisms and behavioral tactics in an effort to reduce their predation risk. One such behavioral tactic is their characteristic escape reaction when exposed to appropriate photic, tactile, or hydrodynamic stimuli. During a typical escape reaction, copepods will respond within milliseconds by retracting antennules towards the prosome, forming a streamlined shape and performing a series of synchronized power strokes with their swimming legs. Copepods are propelled forward several body lengths in distance at velocities that often exceed 100 body lengths/s. Given their body size is usually on the order of millimeters, this means copepods are one of the fastest organisms on the planet.
I am interested in examining the escape behavior of copepods in response to natural stimuli (i.e., predators) and repeatable, quantifiable stimuli (i.e., mechanical derived) in an effort to explore and understand the amazing nuances of copepod survival.
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Predator-Prey Interactions and Feeding Mechanisms
Hydromedusae Rathkea octopuntata ensaring a copepod.
I also investigate feeding mechanisms and predator-prey relationships. I am particularly interested in examining the feeding of cnidarians, ctenophores and chaetognaths.
Chaetognath spines
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Ctenophore larvae, Mnemiopsis leidyi consuming copepod nauplii
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Zooplankton Mediation of Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics
Information on some of this research can be found here:
http://www.me.jhu.edu/lefd/hpiv/BioProject/index_copepod_lab.htm
Associated publications
Hong, J., S. Talapatra, J. Katz, P.A. Tester, R.J. Waggett, and A.R. Place (2012) Algal toxins alter copepod grazing behavior. PloS ONE. 7(5): e36845. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036845 Open Access
Waggett, R.J., D.R. Hardison and P.A. Tester, (2012) Toxicity and nutritional inadequacy act as synergistic mechanisms to disrupt top-down grazer control of Karenia brevis populations. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 444: 15-30. Open Access
Waggett, R.J., P.A. Tester and A.R. Place, (2008) Anti-grazing properties of the toxic dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum during predator-prey interactions with the copepod Acartia tonsa. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 366: 31-42. Open Access
Associated Videos
Copepod Feeding
Copepod Hopping
Copepod Escape Reaction
Copepod Selective Feeding
http://www.me.jhu.edu/lefd/hpiv/BioProject/index_copepod_lab.htm
Associated publications
Hong, J., S. Talapatra, J. Katz, P.A. Tester, R.J. Waggett, and A.R. Place (2012) Algal toxins alter copepod grazing behavior. PloS ONE. 7(5): e36845. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036845 Open Access
Waggett, R.J., D.R. Hardison and P.A. Tester, (2012) Toxicity and nutritional inadequacy act as synergistic mechanisms to disrupt top-down grazer control of Karenia brevis populations. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 444: 15-30. Open Access
Waggett, R.J., P.A. Tester and A.R. Place, (2008) Anti-grazing properties of the toxic dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum during predator-prey interactions with the copepod Acartia tonsa. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 366: 31-42. Open Access
Associated Videos
Copepod Feeding
Copepod Hopping
Copepod Escape Reaction
Copepod Selective Feeding