Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics
Abstract Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are considered a keystone species for higher trophic level predators along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) during the austral summer. The connectivity of krill may play a critical role in predator biogeography, especially for central-place foragers suc...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0f4f265db335447daaf5fddb24be8821 2023-08-27T04:04:53+02:00 Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics Katherine L. Gallagher Michael S. Dinniman Heather J. Lynch 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 https://doaj.org/article/0f4f265db335447daaf5fddb24be8821 EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/0f4f265db335447daaf5fddb24be8821 Scientific Reports, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2023) Medicine R Science Q article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 2023-08-06T00:49:18Z Abstract Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are considered a keystone species for higher trophic level predators along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) during the austral summer. The connectivity of krill may play a critical role in predator biogeography, especially for central-place foragers such as the Pygoscelis spp. penguins that breed along the WAP during the austral summer. Antarctic krill are also heavily fished commercially; therefore, understanding population connectivity of krill is critical to effective management. Here, we used a physical ocean model to examine adult krill connectivity in this region using simulated krill with realistic diel vertical migration behaviors across four austral summers. Our results indicate that krill north and south of Low Island and the southern Bransfield Strait are nearly isolated from each other and that persistent current features play a role in this lack of inter-region connectivity. Transit and entrainment times were not correlated with penguin populations at the large spatial scales examined. However, long transit times and reduced entrainment correlate spatially with the areas where krill fishing is most intense, which heightens the risk that krill fishing may lead to limited krill availability for predators. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Krill Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait Euphausia superba Low Island Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Bransfield Strait Scientific Reports 13 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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English |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Katherine L. Gallagher Michael S. Dinniman Heather J. Lynch Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are considered a keystone species for higher trophic level predators along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) during the austral summer. The connectivity of krill may play a critical role in predator biogeography, especially for central-place foragers such as the Pygoscelis spp. penguins that breed along the WAP during the austral summer. Antarctic krill are also heavily fished commercially; therefore, understanding population connectivity of krill is critical to effective management. Here, we used a physical ocean model to examine adult krill connectivity in this region using simulated krill with realistic diel vertical migration behaviors across four austral summers. Our results indicate that krill north and south of Low Island and the southern Bransfield Strait are nearly isolated from each other and that persistent current features play a role in this lack of inter-region connectivity. Transit and entrainment times were not correlated with penguin populations at the large spatial scales examined. However, long transit times and reduced entrainment correlate spatially with the areas where krill fishing is most intense, which heightens the risk that krill fishing may lead to limited krill availability for predators. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Katherine L. Gallagher Michael S. Dinniman Heather J. Lynch |
author_facet |
Katherine L. Gallagher Michael S. Dinniman Heather J. Lynch |
author_sort |
Katherine L. Gallagher |
title |
Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics |
title_short |
Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics |
title_full |
Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics |
title_fullStr |
Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics |
title_sort |
quantifying antarctic krill connectivity across the west antarctic peninsula and its role in large-scale pygoscelis penguin population dynamics |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 https://doaj.org/article/0f4f265db335447daaf5fddb24be8821 |
geographic |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Bransfield Strait |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Bransfield Strait |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Krill Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait Euphausia superba Low Island |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Krill Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait Euphausia superba Low Island |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/0f4f265db335447daaf5fddb24be8821 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39105-6 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1775354317341982720 |