Results from biological investigations of krill (Euphausia superba) in the Southern Indian Ocean during SIBEX I

• Main Author: Denzil G.M. Miller
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Sea Fisheries Research Institute 1986
• Subjects: Indian; Euphausia superba; Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=1882; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00001882/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=1882&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

During March/April 1984 South Africa studied the hydrology of an area of the South Indian Ocean (52-64°E) as part of the first phase of the Second International BIOMASS Experiment (SIBEX). Both Bongo and neuston nets were deployed at each of 45 oceanographic stations and krill (Euphausia superba DANA) were collected. Net sample analyses showed post-larval krill to be unevenly distributed throughout the survey area and concentrated in the East Wind Drift south of the 0℃ surface temperature isotherm. The mean areal biomass of post-larval krill was 5.5×(10)^5t (±45%). Only late stage larvae were encountered and the mean numerical abundance (32.5per 1000m^3) of larvae was low. Larvae were more or less evenly distributed throughout the survey area. The inter-relationship between krill distribution patterns and water circulation in the region is discussed.