Pelagic organisms avoid white, blue, and red artificial light from scientific instruments.

ABSTRACT: In situ observations of pelagic fish and zooplankton with optical instruments usually rely on external light sources. However, artificial light may attract or repulse marine organisms, which results in biased measurements. It is often assumed that most pelagic organisms do not perceive the red part of the visible spectrum and that red light can be used for underwater optical measurements of biological processes. Using hull-mounted echosounders above an acoustic probe or a baited video camera, each equipped with light sources of different colours (white, blue and red), we demonstrate that pelagic organisms in Arctic and temperate regions strongly avoid artificial light, including visible red light (575-700 nm), from instruments lowered in the water column. The density of organisms decreased

SUBMITTER: Geoffroy M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8298562 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature