SpringerLink
Log in

Geographical distribution and age composition of Euphausia superba larvae (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) in the South Shetland Islands region and southern Scotia Sea in relation to environmental conditions

  • Articles
  • Published:
Acta Oceanologica Sinica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spatial distribution patterns of the different life stages of Euphausia superba in the region of the South Shetland Islands and southern Scotia Sea (Antarctica) were assessed based on scientific survey data collected in January and February of 2010. Adults, eggs, nauplii, metanauplii, calyptopis I-III, and furcilia I-II were found in the investigation. The abundance of larvae averaged 1 172.8 ind./m2, with calyptopis I and II as the dominant stages. Habitat occupancy patterns varied among Euphausia superba at different stages, and three sub-regionswere identified by cluster analysis. The degree of larval development increased fromwest to east. Larvae were not observed north of the South Shetland Islands. Calyptopis I was predominant in the water between Elephant Island and the South Orkney Islands, which featured no thermocline. Older stages, including calyptopis II and III and furcilia I and II, were common in north and northeast of the South Orkney Islands, which were characterized by high temperature and high chlorophyll concentration. Distribution and abundance of the early life stages of E. superba were associated with specific environmental conditions. According to Biota-Environment matching (BIOENV), the distributions of E. superba larvae were correlated with a combination of temperature at the surface and 200m, and 0–100 mintegrated chlorophyll a concentration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson A, Siegel V, Pakhomov E, et al. 2004. Long-term decline in krill stock and increase in salps within the Southern Ocean. Nature, 432: 100–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bersch M, Becker G A. 1986. The surface expression of the western Weddell-Scotia confluence. Meeresforschung, 31: 58–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinton E, Huntley M, Townsend A W. 1986. Larvae of Euphausia superba in the Scotia Sea and Bransfield Strait in March 1984-development and abundance compared with 1981 larvea. Polar Biol, 5: 221–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke K R. 1993. Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure. Aust J Ecol, 18: 117–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke K R, Ainsworth M. 1993. Amethod of linking multivariate community structure to environmental variables. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 92: 205–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke K R, Gorley R N. 2006. PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial. Plymouth: PRIMER-E

    Google Scholar 

  • Deacon G E R. 1933. A general account of the hydrology of the South Atlantic Ocean. Discovery Rep, 7: 171–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias M C. 1990. Effects of photoperiod, phytoplankton level and temperature on the growth, development and survival of larval Euphausia superba (Dana) [dissertation]. Santa Barbara: University of California, 112

    Google Scholar 

  • Everson I. 2000. Distribution and standing stock. In: Everson I, ed. Krill: Biology, Ecology and Fisheries-Fish and Aquatic Resources, Series 6. Oxford: Blackwell Science, 194–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser F C. 1936. On the development and distribution of the young stages of krill (Euphausia superba). Discovery Rep, 14: 1–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Frazer T K, Ross R M, Quetin L B, et al. 1997. Turnover of carbon and nitrogen during growth of larval krill, Euphausia superba Dana: a stable isotope approach. J ExpMar Biol Ecol, 212: 259–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster T D, Middleton J H. 1984. The oceanographic structure of the eastern Scotia Sea: 1. Physical oceanography. Deep-Sea Res, 31: 529–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen W. 1988. On the significance of lipids in Antarctic zooplankton. Reports on Polar Research, 49: 1–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempel I. 1985. Variation in geographical distribution and abundance of larvae of antarctic krill, Euphausia superba in the southern Atlantic Ocean. In: Siegfried W R, Condy P R, Laws R M, eds. Antarctic Nutrient Cycles and Food Webs. Berlin: Springer, 304–307

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hempel I, Hempel G. 1986. Field observations on the developmental ascent of larval Euphausia superba (Crustacea). Polar Biol, 6: 121–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann E E, Klinck J M, Locarnini R A, et al. 1998. Krill transport in the Scotia Sea and environs. Antarct Sci, 10: 406–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann E E, Lascara C M. 2000. Modelling the growth dynamics of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 194: 219–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huntley M, Brinton E. 1991. Mesoscale variation in growth and early development of Euphausia superba Dana in the western Brans-field Strait region. Deep-Sea Res Part A, 38: 1213–1240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda T. 1984. Development of the larvae of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) observed in the laboratory. J Exp Biol Ecol, 75: 107–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kruskal J B. 1964. Multidimential scaling by optimizing goodness of fit to a nonmetric hypothesis. Psychometrika, 29: 1–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackintosh N A. 1972. Life cycle of Antarctic krill in relation to ice and water conditions. Discovery Rep, 36: 1–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarov R R. 1972. The life history and peculiarities of the distribution of Euphausia superba Dana. Tr Vses Nauchno-Issled Rybnogc Okeanogr (in Russian), 77: 85–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarov R R. 1974. Larvae of Euphausia superba Dana in plankton from the Sea of Scotia. Tr Vses Nauchno-Issled Rybnogo Okeanogr (in Russian), 99: 84–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarov R R. 1979. Early larval stages of antarctic euphausiids (Crustacea, Euphausiacea). Zoologischeskii Zhurnal (in Russian), 58: 314–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr J W S. 1962. The Natural History and Geography of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Discovery Rep, 32: 33–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschall H P, Hirche H J. 1984. Development of eggs and nauplii of Euphausia superba. Polar Biol, 2: 245–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meredith M P, King J C. 2005. Rapid climate change in the ocean west of the Antarctic Peninsula during the second half of the 20th century. Geophys Res Lett, 32: L19604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer B, Atkinson A, Blume B, et al. 2003. Feeding and energy budgets of larval Antarctic krill Euphausia superba in summer. Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 57: 167–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muench R D, Huber B A, Gunn J T, et al. 1992. The Weddell-Scotia marginal ice zone: physical oceanographic conditions, geographical and seasonal variability. J Mar Syst, 3: 169–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy E J, Thorpe S E, Watkins J L, et al. 2004. Modeling the krill transport pathways in the Scotia Sea: spatial and environmental connections generating the seasonal distribution of krill. Deep-Sea Res II, 51: 1435–1456

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol S, Foster J, Kawaguchi S. 2012. The fishery for Antarctic krill-recent development. Fish Fish, 13: 30–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson S L, Sievers H A. 1980. The Weddell-Scotia Confluence. J Phys Oceanogr, 10: 1584–1610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quetin L B, Ross RM. 1984. Depth distribution of develo** Euphausia superba embryos, predicted from sinking rates. Mar Biol, 79: 47–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rakusa-Suszczewski S. 1984. Krill larvae in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during FIBEX 1981. Polar Biol, 3: 141–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross R M, Quetin L B. 1986. How productive are antarctic krill?. Bioscience, 36: 264–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross R M, Quetin L B. 1989. Energetic cost to develop the first feeding stage for Euphausia superba Dana and the effects of delays in food availability. J ExpMar Bio Ecol, 133: 103–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross R M, Quetin L B, Kirsch E. 1988. Effect of temperature on developmental times and survival of early larval stages of Euphausia superba Dana. J ExpMar Bio Ecol, 121: 55–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt K, Atkinson A, Venables H J, et al. 2012. Early spawning of Antarctic krill in the Scotia Sea is fuelled by “superfluous” feeding on non-ice associated phytoplankton blooms. Deep-Sea Res II, 59–60: 159–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shulenberger E, Wormuth J H, Loeb V J. 1984. A large swarm of Euphausia superba: overview of path structure and composition. J Crustac Biol, 4: 75–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiridonov V A. 1995. Spatial and temporal variability in reproductive timing of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Polar Biol, 15: 161–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trivelpiece W Z, Hinke J T, Miller A K, et al. 2011. Variability in krill biomass links harvesting and climate warming to penguin population changes in Antarctic. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 108: 7625–7628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Rong. 1989. Distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae of antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) in antarctic Peninsula area. Chin J Oceanol Limnol, 7: 97–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witek Z, Koronkiewicz A, Soszka G J. 1980. Certain aspects of the early life history of krill Euphausia superba Dana (Crustacea). Pol Polar Res, 1: 97–115

    Google Scholar 

  • **ao Cunde. 2008. Changes in antarctic climate system: past, present and future. Adv Clim Chang Res (in Chinese), 4: 1–7

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key and Open Laboratory of Marine and Estuarine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, 200090, China

    Qian Gao, Zhaoli Xu, Hongliang Huang, Xuezhong Chen, Chunlei Feng & Lingzhi Li

Authors
  1. Qian Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhaoli Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hongliang Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xuezhong Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chunlei Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lingzhi Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuezhong Chen.

Additional information

Foundation item: Project on the exploration of fishery resources in the offshore supported by the Ministry of Agriculture (2010–2013); Chinese Polar Environment Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment Programes under contract No. CHINARE2012∼2016-01-06.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gao, Q., Xu, Z., Huang, H. et al. Geographical distribution and age composition of Euphausia superba larvae (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) in the South Shetland Islands region and southern Scotia Sea in relation to environmental conditions. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 32, 59–67 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0378-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0378-1

Key words

Search

Navigation