scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism in body shape of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and its influence on target strength

Polar Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Amakasu ◽  
Atsushi Ono ◽  
Masato Moteki ◽  
Takashi Ishimaru
2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 2578-2588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Fielding ◽  
Jonathan L. Watkins ◽  
Philip N. Trathan ◽  
Peter Enderlein ◽  
Claire M. Waluda ◽  
...  

Abstract Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are a key species in Southern Ocean ecosystems, maintaining very large numbers of predators, and fluctuations in their abundance can affect the overall structure and functioning of the ecosystems. The interannual variability in the abundance and biomass of krill was examined using a 17-year time-series of acoustic observations undertaken in the Western Core Box (WCB) survey area to the northwest of South Georgia, Southern Ocean. Krill targets were identified in acoustic data using a multifrequency identification window and converted to krill density using the Stochastic Distorted-Wave Born Approximation target strength model. Krill density ranged over several orders of magnitude (0–10 000 g m−2) and its distribution was highly skewed with many zero observations. Within each survey, the mean krill density was significantly correlated with the top 7% of the maximum krill densities observed. Hence, only the densest krill swarms detected in any one year drove the mean krill density estimates for the WCB in that year. WCB krill density (µ, mean density for the area) showed several years (1997/1998, 2001–2003, 2005–2007) of high values (µ > 30 g m−2) interspersed with years (1999/2000, 2004, 2009/2010) of low density (µ < 30 g m−2). This pattern showed three different periods, with fluctuations every 4–5 years. Cross correlation analyses of variability in krill density with current and lagged indices of ocean (sea surface temperature, SST and El Niño/Southern Oscillation) and atmospheric variability (Southern Annular Mode) found the highest correlation between krill density and winter SST (August SST) from the preceding year. A quadratic regression (r2 = 0.42, p < 0.05) provides a potentially valuable index for forecasting change in this ecosystem.


2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Amakasu ◽  
Masahiko Furusawa

Abstract The target strengths (TS) of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) were measured at 70 kHz aboard the research and training vessel “Umitaka-maru” of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology in February 2003 during a Southern Ocean survey. The systematic variations of TS vs. the incident angle of the ensonified wave, henceforth called TS-patterns, were successfully measured for 12 live Antarctic krill. These measurements were compared with the theoretical TS-patterns predicted by the Distorted-Wave Born Approximation-based deformed-cylinder model (DWBA model). While there was good agreement near the main lobe, the measurements were higher than the model predictions in the side-lobe regions; this is consistent with the observations of others. Several possible causes of this discrepancy such as the bending of abdomen and scattering from pleopods were examined, but no single factor was identified as the cause. Rather, it is likely that the discrepancy is a result of a combination of several factors.


2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian S. Reiss ◽  
Anthony M. Cossio ◽  
Valerie Loeb ◽  
David A. Demer

Abstract Reiss, C. S., Cossio, A. M., Loeb, V., and Demer, D. A. 2008. Variations in the biomass of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) around the South Shetland Islands, 1996–2006. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 497–508. The time-series of acoustically surveyed Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) biomass near the South Shetland Islands (SSI) between 1996 and 2006 is re-estimated using a validated physics-based model of target strength (TS), and a species-discrimination algorithm based on the length-range of krill in plankton samples to identify krill acoustically, derived from TS-model predictions. The SSI area is surveyed each austral summer by the US Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program, and the acoustic data are used to examine trends in krill biomass and to assess the potential impact of fishing to the reproductive success of land-based predators (seals and penguins). The time-series of recomputed biomass densities varies greatly from that computed using an empirical log-linear TS-model and fixed-ranges of differences in volume–backscattering strengths (ΔSv), conventionally used to identify krill acoustically. The new acoustic estimates of biomass are significantly correlated with both proportional recruitment and krill abundance estimated from zooplankton samples. Two distinct peaks in biomass (1996 and 2003) are in accord with recruitment events shown by net-based krill time-series. The foundation for the new TS-model and the associated krill-discrimination algorithm, coupled with the agreement between acoustic- and net-survey results, provides strong support for the use of the new analytical technique. Variable biases in the re-estimated krill biomass have been greatly reduced. However, survey variability increased as a result of the increased rejection of acoustic backscatter previously attributed to krill. Management of Southern Ocean krill stocks based on a precautionary approach may therefore result in decreased allocations of krill, given its dependence on the variability of survey estimates.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 300
Author(s):  
Peng-xiang XU ◽  
Ying-chun LI ◽  
Guo-ping ZHU ◽  
Hui XIA ◽  
Liu-xiong XU

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Ikeda ◽  
P Dixon

Live E. superba were transported from Antarctic waters to a tropical laboratory where observations at the temperature of -0.5�C (0 to - 1.0�C), were made of intermoult period of specimens fed a mixture of microalgae (Dunaliella tertiolecta and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) or artificial pet fish food or starved. Mean intermoult period was 26.4-27.1 days for fed specimens and 29.6 days for starved specimens, with no relation to the size of specimens. The moult accounted for a loss of 2.63-4.35% of animal dry weight, which is equivalent to 1.1-1.8% of animal nitrogen or 1.4-2.3% of animal carbon. The contribution of moults to detritus in the Antarctic Ocean was estimated as 0.11 g C m-2 per year.


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