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Distribution and demography of Antarctic krill in the Southeast Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 2008

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Abstract

This study documents horizontal distribution and demography of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) from the Southern Ocean during January–March 2008. The cruise predominantly occurred in CCAMLR Subarea 48.6, where knowledge about the ecosystem is limited. E. superba were not found north of 52°S. The biomass, estimated from trawl catches, was highest (63.09 g/m2) at a station 680 km southeast of Bouvetøya and at two stations 1,400 and 600 km southeast and southwest of Bouvetøya, 54.67 and 61.38 g/m2, respectively. Body length ranged from 19 to 61 mm (N = 8,538), with a mean of 42.0 ± 6.4 mm (SD). The overall sex ratio was 1:1, 46.2% males (13.2% adults and 33.0% subadults), 46.1% females (33.6% adults and 12.5% subadults), while 7.5% were juveniles. Trawl stations dominated by adults were found west and north of Bouvetøya. Stations with high proportions of subadults and juveniles were mainly found southeast of the island. Four cluster groups were differentiated: analyzing data on krill sex proportions, maturity stages, hydrography, nutrients and chlorophyll concentrations. Two groups represented stations located in the northern part of the study area, where E. superba were absent; water temperatures were higher and the nutrient concentrations lower compared to the groups where E. superba were present. This study shows that bathymetric features like the North Weddell Ridge including Bouvetøya are important for concentrating krill probably due to water mass characteristics and advective processes which influence regional krill demography. The southern regions of CCAMLR sector 48.6 are essential for understanding regional krill recruitment and production.

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Acknowledgments

AKES (Antarctic Krill and Ecosystem Studies) was supported by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal affairs, the Institute of Marine Research, the University of Bergen, the Norwegian Antarctic Research Expeditions (NARE), the Norwegian Research Council, StatoilHydro, and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. Dr V. Siegel was supported by the German LAKRIS Project (BMBF MGS 03F046A). We thank Dr P. Wiebe, Department of Biology, Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA, for help and advice during the survey and Dr. G. A. Tarling and the British Antarctic Survey for valuable help with species determination both prior to and after the cruise. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the crew of the RV “G. O. Sars”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, Nordnes, 5817, Bergen, Norway

    B. A. Krafft, W. Melle, T. Knutsen, E. Bagøien, C. Broms & B. Ellertsen

  2. Seafisheries Research Institute, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany

    V. Siegel

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  1. B. A. Krafft
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  2. W. Melle
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Correspondence to B. A. Krafft.

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Krafft, B.A., Melle, W., Knutsen, T. et al. Distribution and demography of Antarctic krill in the Southeast Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 2008. Polar Biol 33, 957–968 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0774-3

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