Overview
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Introduction
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Nekton: Systematics and Geographical Distribution
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Fundamental Nektonic Adaptations
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Origins and Ecological Divergence of Nekton
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Conclusion
Keywords
About this book
1. Nekton as an ecomorphological type of biont The term nekton was suggested and used for the first time in 1890 by E. Haeckel in his book Plankton-Studien. Etymologically the word nekton derives from the Greek VTJKTTJP, i.e. swimming. As Haeckel defined it, nekton describes collectively all swimming animals that are 'free to choose their path', i.e. can resist a strong current of water and, distinct from planktonic animals, go where they wish. While giving a general idea of the dividing line between plankton and nekton, Haeckel's definition, which has played an important role in shaping our ideas about nekton, today no longer provides a sufficient basis for ecological and functional morphological investigations, since it affords no possibility of quantitatively assessing either the boundary between plankton and nekton or that between nekton and other ecomorphological types of biont. Thus Parin (1968), proceeding from Haeckel's principle, believes that in the epipelagic zone of the ocean the minimum size of nektonic fishes with a well-developed capacity for active swimming may be between 15 and 30 cm, as fishes shorter than 15 cm are unable to counter oceanic currents. Meanwhile young Leucaspius (Leucaspius delineatus) only 1.5 cm long, observed by this writer in ponds near Moscow proved capable of active horizontal migrations across the entire body of water, which, if Haeckel's definition is accepted, brings the border between planktonic and nektonic fish in this case to between 1.5 and 2.0 cm.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Nekton
Authors: Yu. G. Aleyev
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1324-6
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
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eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive
Copyright Information: Dr. W. Junk b.v., Publishers, The Hague 1977
Hardcover ISBN: 978-90-6193-560-5Due: 31 March 1977
Softcover ISBN: 978-94-010-1326-0Published: 04 January 2012
eBook ISBN: 978-94-010-1324-6Published: 06 December 2012
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: 441
Topics: Freshwater & Marine Ecology