9319226 Paffenhofer The long-term goal of this research is to identify, describe and quantify key processes which govern the abundance, composition and distribution of zooplankton in the ocean. The main hypothesis is that both signal perception, and the ability to respond to signals, determine if a predator captures prey, of if the prey escapes from the predator. The objectives of this work were triggered by ongoing studies on prey and predator behavior. Aside from major differences between species, a range from small to major differences within species were observed. Behavior observations alone appear to be insufficient to comprehend a stage's range of capabilities. This work will determine the abundance and distribution of chemo- and mechanosensors on the cephalic appendages of nauplii, early copepodid stages, and adult females of four species of marine planktonic copepods: and ontogenetic changes in sensor types. Data obtained in the study will further knowledge on the ecological significance of predator/prey responses in marine plankton. ***
