Light-cued emergence and re-entry events in a strongly tidal estuary

Acoustic backscatter from an active sonar system (TAPS-6) over a range of six frequencies between 265 kHz and 3 MHz revealed characteristics of emergence and reentry events within 1 h of sunset and sunrise, respectively, at a site 10 m deep in the Damariscotta River estuary, Maine. Emergence traps indicated that the mysid shrimpNeomysis americana was the dominant migrator. Daily fluctuation in irradiance influenced the timing of dusk emergence. Local variability in irradiance apparently caused populations to emerge occasionally before sunset or to leave the surface after the beginning of nautical twilight near dawn. Emergence before sunset was marked by slower-than-average ascent, and departure from the surface after initiation of nautical twilight was marked by faster-than-average descent. This pattern would be expected for populations avoiding visual predators by concealment in dark water. Mean ascent (0.29 ± 0.03 cm s⁻¹ ±1 SE]) and descent (−0.26 ± 0.02 cm s⁻¹) velocities showed little difference in magnitude, suggesting that a similar mechanism controls both. Ascent initiation times for the first such event of the night were consistent with a cue based on relative rate of change in light intensity and inconsistent with either the progress of isolumes or with absolute rate of change in light intensity.