Mondragón-Neri, G.A., J., Gómez-Gutiérrez, F., García-Fernández, D., Gendron, G., Busquets-Vass & C.J., Robinson (2023). Ontogenetic social behavior and seasonal abundance of the subtropical krill Nyctiphanes simplex in northwestern Mexican waters. John R. Dolan (Eds.), Journal of Plankton Research. 45(3): 421-439. DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbad008.
Gabriel A. Mondragón-Neri 1, Jaime Gómez-Gutiérrez 2, Franklin García-Fernández 3, Diane Gendron 2, Geraldine Busquets-Vass 4 y Carlos J. Robinson 5
Nyctiphanes simplex (Euphausiidae) is the key prey for numerous pelagic predators because it is the most abundant ofthe 12 krill species present in the Gulf of California, forming dense and complex ontogenetic social interactionsthroughout its life cycle. We describe the diverse social behaviors of N. simplex and estimate its seasonal abundancein the Gulf of California accounting on average 74% of the krill assemblage. N. simplex exhibited complex anddynamic social repertoires of intraspecific behavioral interactions as early as Calyptopis 1 to adult phase, showing allpossible ranges of social behavior known for pelagic invertebrates (aggregations, swarms, schools, shoals). We concludethat N. simplex displays different degrees of social behavior that concentrate abundance throughout their life cycle inepibenthic, pelagic and near surface habitats being highly adaptive behavior for feeding and reproduction. However,social interactions also pose a negative effect, facilitating parasite and disease transmission among conspecifics andfacilitate predation for diverse visual predators adapted to find and prey on N. simplex aggregations and swarms. Wereport the most complete integrated evidence of social behavior and dataset of abundance data of any krill species intropical and subtropical regions that have remained overlooked using traditional zooplankton net sampling methods.
Palabras clave: Euphausiids; behavior; aggregation; swarm; school; shoal; Gulf of California; Mexico
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