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The krill maturity cycle: a conceptual model of the seasonal cycle in Antarctic krill

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Abstract

A long-term study on the maturity cycle of Antarctic krill was conducted in a research aquarium. Antarctic krill were either kept individually or in groups for 8 months under different temperature and food conditions, and the succession of female maturity stages and intermoult periods were observed. In all cases regression and re-maturation of external sexual characteristics were observed, but there were differences in length of the cycle and intermoult periods between the experimental conditions. Based on these results, and information available from previous studies, we suggest a conceptual model describing seasonal cycle of krill physiology which provides a framework for future studies and highlight the importance of its link to the timings of the environmental conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank A Constable for his useful discussion on the conceptual model. We also thank V Siegel and J Watkins for constructive comments on the earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Government Antarctic Division, Department of Environment and Heritage, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia

    So Kawaguchi, Paul Cramp & Stephen Nicol

  2. IASOS, University of Tasmania, TAS, 7001, Hobart, Australia

    Toshihiro Yoshida

  3. Department of Zoology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, VIC, Australia

    Luke Finley

Authors
  1. So Kawaguchi
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  2. Toshihiro Yoshida
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  3. Luke Finley
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  4. Paul Cramp
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  5. Stephen Nicol
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Correspondence to So Kawaguchi.

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Kawaguchi, S., Yoshida, T., Finley, L. et al. The krill maturity cycle: a conceptual model of the seasonal cycle in Antarctic krill. Polar Biol 30, 689–698 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0226-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0226-2

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