Response to light in first and second stage zoeae of eight freshwater shrimps

The vertical migration of the first stage of five diadromous atyids (Caridina multidentata, C. typus, C. leucosticta, C. serratirostris, Paratya compressa) and two diadromous palaemonids (Macrobrachium japonicum, M. formosense) and a non-diadromous palaemonid shrimp (M. nipponense) and second zoeae of C. multidentata and M. formosense were observed under different light and salinity conditions. The first and second zoeae spread over the whole of the water column during darkness, and sank to the bottom under the light independent of the various salinity and light conditions, though there were slight differences among species. The swimming ability of the zoea is limited, thus this vertical migration is considered to be not useful for homing migration. This vertical migration at night is considered to be useful in order to feed on organic material and avoiding predators on the bottom.