Data from: Intoxicated copepods: ingesting toxic phytoplankton leads to risky behaviour
Data files
Apr 04, 2016 version files 142.35 KB
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copepod kinematics.xlsx
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copepod survival.xlsx
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egg hatching success.xlsx
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egg production.xlsx
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ingestion rate.xlsx
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README_for_copepod kinematics.docx
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README_for_copepod survival.docx
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README_for_egg hatching success.docx
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README_for_egg production.docx
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README_for_ingestion rate.docx
Abstract
Understanding interactions between harmful algal bloom (HAB) species and their grazers is essential for determining mechanisms of bloom proliferation and termination. We exposed the common calanoid copepod, Temora longicornis to the harmful algal bloom species Alexandrium fundyense and examined effects on copepod survival, ingestion, egg production and swimming behaviour. A. fundyense was readily ingested by T. longicornis and significantly altered copepod swimming behaviour without affecting copepod survival or fitness. A. fundyense caused T. longicornis to increase their swimming speed and the straightness of their path long after the copepods had been removed from the A. fundyense treatment. Models suggest that these changes could lead to a 25-56% increase in encounter frequency between copepods and their predators. This work highlights the need to determine how ingesting HAB species alters grazer behaviour as this can have significant impacts on the fate of HAB toxins in marine systems.