Investigating Swimming Behaviour of Daphnia (Daphnia Sp) in Response to Light Stimulus

The aim of this study is to identify and measure the swimming behaviour of waterflea, (Daphnia sp), parameters in light and control treatments and the effects of environmental light variable on swimming behaviour of waterflea. Aquarium calibrated by the specified spatial coordinated paper plate with dimensions (80×10×30 cm) which are used to determine the measurable behavioural indices and investigated waterflea behavioural parameters in captivity. Behavioural parameters such as number of hops, percentage of absolute dispersion and swimming speed significantly increased in light treatment (P<0.05). And target swimming speed in the light treatment showed no significant change compared to the control treatment. The results showed that the measured parameters were influenced by the ambient light variables. So that changing ambient light conditions caused change in waterflea swimming behaviour and subsequently the effect on behavioural responses (P>0.05).