Environmental effects on the growth, maturation and physiology in antarctic krill (euphausia superba) over an annual cycle : an experimental approach ...

• Main Author: Brown, MEC
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; Euphausia superba
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23210813; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Environmental_effects_on_the_growth_maturation_and_physiology_in_antarctic_krill_euphausia_superba_over_an_annual_cycle_an_experimental_approach/23210813

Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is a keystone species in the Antarctic ecosystem, being a major food source for most predators and the target of a substantial fishery. Despite being a critical component in the Southern Ocean, limited information exists on krill growth, maturation and physiology under various light, diet and temperature regimes throughout a full year. Without a comprehensive understanding of these factors, forecasting adaptations in a changing environment is hampered. This study examines the effects of the key environmental parameters (light, food availability and temperature) on growth, maturation and physiology in krill. Krill were incubated for an annual cycle under natural light (emulating the field environment), and constant food supply and temperature. Krill showed a clear seasonal cycle of growth and maturity in all three temperature treatments (-1°C, 1°C, 3°C). Sex significantly affected the relationship with growth over a year. Overall, females showed higher growth ...