Circumpolar occurrence of eugregarinid protozoanCephaloidophora pacificaassociated with Antarctic krill,Euphausia superba

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 437-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunio T. Takahashi ◽  
Masaki Kobayashi ◽  
So Kawaguchi ◽  
Junko Saigusa ◽  
Atsushi Tanimura ◽  
...  

AbstractThe geographical distribution of protozoan parasiteCephaloidophora pacificaAvdeev (Order Eugregarininda) associated with Antarctic krill,Euphausia superba, was examined in samples collected from the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula, near Syowa Station, and Pacific and Indian sectors of the Southern Ocean.Cephaloidophora pacificawas found at all stations around the Antarctic, with 96.4% of the euphausiids infected (n = 195). The numbers ofC. pacificaper krill ranged from 0 to 8089 krill-1, and the average was 350.0 ± 787.8 (mean ± SD). The frequency distributions ofC. pacificashowed an overdispersed parasite population (i.e. the variance was greater than the mean) at all locations. Statistical analysis showed that whilst the geographical location did not have a significant effect on intensity ofC. pacificathe maturity stage of krill did, with an increasing intensity of infection as krill matures. The infestation ofE. superbaby eugregarinid protozoan is considered to be a circum-Antarctic phenomenon, and it occurs equally throughout the Southern Ocean.

Author(s):  
C. F. Ferguson ◽  
J. K. B. Raymont

Interest has developed recently in the biochemical composition of zooplankton, particularly in relation to seasonal changes. An earlier study (Raymont, Srinivasagam & Raymont, 1971b) on deep frozen Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, collected over approximately 5 weeks in December/January 1968/69 suggested that protein was the main constituent and lipid much more variable. Despite the variability the mean lipid content during January was distinctly higher than in the previous month, thus supporting the findings of Kryuchkova & Makarov (1969) that lipid content of krill tends to increase as the summer advances. However, collections of material from the Antarctic have tended to be limited both in location and season while methods of preservation have varied. It seemed desirable to follow changes in the biochemical composition of krill collected from a somewhat wider area and over a longer period. Moreover, the more extensive material gave opportunity for a more detailed examination of specific fractions, such as the amino acids of Euphausia superba. Preliminary investigations (Srinivasagam, Raymont, Moodie & Raymont, 1971) on the amino acid composition of protein hydrolysates showed good agreement with the results of some other authors. However, the findings of Burkholder, Mandelli & Centeno (1967) and especially of Moiseev (1970) showed certain differences.


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.


Polar Record ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 18 (112) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inigo Everson

The past ten years have seen a greatly increased interest in the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana (Fig 1). In particular there have been several Russian expeditions whose main aim has been the evaluation of krill as an exploitable resource (Burukovskiy and Yaragov, 1965) and, more recently, Japanese expeditions have ventured into the Southern Ocean with similaraims (Nemoto and Nasu, 1975). It is obviously vital that international agreement should be reached soon to control this potential exploitation of Southern Ocean fisheries. The problem is at present receiving careful consideration by the SCAR Group of Specialists on Living Resources ofthe Southern Ocean.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 603-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susie M. Grant ◽  
Simeon L. Hill ◽  
Philip N. Trathan ◽  
Eugene J. Murphy

AbstractEcosystem services are the benefits that mankind obtains from natural ecosystems. Here we identify the key services provided by the Southern Ocean. These include provisioning of fishery products, nutrient cycling, climate regulation and the maintenance of biodiversity, with associated cultural and aesthetic benefits. Potential catch limits for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) alone are equivalent to 11% of current global marine fisheries landings. We also examine the extent to which decision-making within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) considers trade-offs between ecosystem services, using the management of the Antarctic krill fishery as a case study. Management of this fishery considers a three-way trade-off between fisheries performance, the status of the krill stock and that of predator populations. However, there is a paucity of information on how well these components represent other ecosystem services that might be degraded as a result of fishing. There is also a lack of information on how beneficiaries value these ecosystem services. A formal ecosystem assessment would help to address these knowledge gaps. It could also help to harmonize decision-making across the ATS and promote global recognition of Southern Ocean ecosystem services by providing a standard inventory of the relevant ecosystem services and their value to beneficiaries.


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.


2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (209) ◽  
pp. 529-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Sugiyama ◽  
Hiroyuki Enomoto ◽  
Shuji Fujita ◽  
Kotaro Fukui ◽  
Fumio Nakazawa ◽  
...  

AbstractDuring the Japanese-Swedish Antarctic traverse expedition of 2007/08, we measured the surface snow density at 46 locations along the 2800 km long route from Syowa station to Wasa station in East Antarctica. The mean snow density for the upper 1 (or 0.5) m layer varied from 333 to 439 kg m-3 over a region spanning an elevation range of 365-3800 ma.s.l. The density variations were associated with the elevation of the sampling sites; the density decreased as the elevation increased, moving from the coastal region inland. However, the density was relatively insensitive to the change in elevation along the ridge on the Antarctic plateau between Dome F and Kohnen stations. Because surface wind is weak in this region, irrespective of elevation, the wind speed was suggested to play a key role in the near-surface densification. The results of multiple regression performed on the density using meteorological variables were significantly improved by the inclusion of wind speed as a predictor. The regression analysis yielded a linear dependence between the density and the wind speed, with a coefficient of 13.5 kg m-3 (m s-1)-1. This relationship is nearly three times stronger than a value previously computed from a dataset available in Antarctica. Our data indicate that the wind speed is more important to estimates of the surface snow density in Antarctica than has been previously assumed.


1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Dillaman ◽  
R. Y. George ◽  
J.-O. Strömberg

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