Gregarious behaviour in crustacean micronekton (Euphausiacea, Mysidacea)

TL;DRAbstract

Certain species of pelagic euphausiids and hyperbenthic mysids (Crustacea) show highly integrated social behaviour comparable in many aspects to schooling in higher marine organisms such as fish, squid and mammals. The ethology, form, maintenance, occurrence and population structure of aggregations of three species of euphausiid and six species of mysid are described. An attempt is made to define the adaptive advantages and selective pressures determining the characteristics of social behaviour of marine crustaceans as a whole, between orders, and between species. The general internal structure and dynamics of aggregations were determined using a three-dimensional stereophotographic technique capable of estimating distances between individuals as small as 5 mm in length. Results show that euphausiid and mysid aggregations are similar in overall structure. Within species, schools and swarms showed similar characteristics apart from their degree of polarization. Physical parameters, e.g.

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