Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introducing Antarctic Krill Euphausia superba Dana, 1850

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biology and Ecology of Antarctic Krill

Part of the book series: Advances in Polar Ecology ((AVPE))

Abstract

The first description of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) dates back to 1850. After a period of taxonomic work and the description of several synonyms, detailed studies on the morphology, internal anatomy and general biology of this species commenced with the ‘Discovery’ investigations beginning in the 1920s. During the BIOMASS project (Biological Investigations Of Marine Antarctic Systems and Stocks) in the 1980s, studies expanded on the biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, including all aspects of zoogeography and zooplankton community structure. The developing krill fishery and the establishment of CCAMLR (Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) resulted in the pressing need for more quantitative data, which required the use of standardized methods of surveying, sampling, and measuring krill. Despite krill becoming one of the most well-known marine species, many questions remain unanswered and require – in addition to well-established methods – different or even new approaches in future krill research.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson A, Nicol S, Kawaguchi S, Pakhomov E, Quetin L, Ross R, Hill S, Reiss C, Siegel V, Tarling G (2012) Fitting Euphausia superba into Southern Ocean food-web models: a review of data sources and their limitations. CCAMLR Sci 19:1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker A, Boden BP, Brinton E (1990) A practical guide to the euphausiids of the world. Natural History Museum Publications, London, p 96

    Google Scholar 

  • Bargmann HE (1937) The reproductive system of Euphausia superba. Discov Rep 14:325–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Bargmann HE (1945) The development and live history of adolescent and adult krill Euphausia superba. Discov Rep 23:103–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Boysen-Ennen E, Piatkowski U (1988) Meso- and macroplankton communities in the Weddell Sea. Polar Biol 9:17–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brierley AS, Brandon MA, Watkins JL (1998) An assessment of the utility of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler for biomass estimation. Deep-Sea Res I 45:1555–1573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrera P, Churnside JH, Boyra G, Marques V, Scalabrin C, Uriarte A (2006) Comparison of airborne LIDAR with echosounders: a case study in the coastal Atlantic waters of Southern Europe. ICES J Mar Sci 63:1736–1750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CCAMLR (2011) Scientific Observers Manual – 2011. Observation guidelines and reference material. CCAMLR, Hobart, p 71

    Google Scholar 

  • Cisewski B, Strass VH, Rhein M, Krägefsky S (2010) Seasonal variation of diel vertical migration of zooplankton from ADCP backscatter time series data in the Lazarev Sea. Antarct Deep-Sea Res I 57:78–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cox MJ, Warren JD, Demer DA, Cutter GR, Brierley AS (2010) Three-dimensional observations of swarms of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) made using a multi-beam echosounder. Deep-Sea Res II 57:508–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croxall JP, Reid K, Prince PA (1999) Diet, provisioning and productivity responses of marine predators to differences in the availability of Antarctic krill. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 177:115–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuzin-Roudy J, Amsler MO (1991) Ovarian development and sexual maturity staging in Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana (Euphausiacea). J Crust Biol 11:236–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demer DA, Conti SG (2005) New target-strength model indicates more krill in the Southern Ocean. ICES J Mar Sci 62:25–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einarsson H (1945) Euphausiacea 1. North Atlantic species. Dana Rep 27:1–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Everson I (2000) Krill biology, ecology and fisheries, Fish and aquatic resources series. Blackwell Science, Oxford, p 372

    Google Scholar 

  • Everson I, Bone DG (1986) Effectiveness of the RMT8 system for sampling krill (Euphausia superba) swarms. Pol Biol 6:83–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fregin T (2011) Untersuchungen zu Form und Funktion der Leuchtorgane des Nordischen Krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars, 1857) (Crustacea: Euphausiacea). PhD Thesis, University Hamburg, Germany, p 289

    Google Scholar 

  • Fregin T, Wiese K (2002) The photophores of Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars) (Euphausiacea): mode of operation. Helgol Mar Res 56:112–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godø OR, Reiss C, Siegel V, Watkins JL (2014) Commercial fishing vessel as research vessels in the Antarctic – requirements and solutions exemplified with a new vessel. CCAMLR Sci 21:11–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmo L, Constanzo G (1978) Diagnostic value of the thelycum in euphausiids, II. Oceanic species. Genus Euphausia Dana, 1852. Arch Oceanogr Limnol 19:143–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Guihen D, Fielding S, Murphy E, Heywood K, Griffiths G (2014) An assessment of the use of ocean gliders to undertake acoustic measurements of zooplankton: the distribution and density of Antarctic krill in the Weddell Sea. Limnol Oceanogr Methods 12:373–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hempel G (1985) On the biology of polar seas, particularly the Southern Ocean. In: Gray JS, Christiansen ME (eds) Marine biology of polar regions and effects of stress on marine organisms. Wiley, Oxford, pp 3–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Herring PJ, Locket NA (1978) The luminescence and photophores of euphausiid crustaceans. J Zool 186:431–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horne JK (2000) Acoustic approaches to remote species identification: a review. Fish Oceanogr 9:356–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosie GW (1994) The macrozooplankton communities in the Prydz Bay region, Antarctica. In: El-Sayed SZ (ed) Southern Ocean ecology. The BIOMASS perspective. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 93–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarman SN, Deagle BE (2016) Genetics of Antarctic krill. In: Siegel V (ed) The biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. Springer, Cham, pp 247–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarman SN, Elliott NG, Nicol S, McMinn A (2000) Molecular phylogenetics of circumglobal Euphausia species (Euphausiacea: Crustacea). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57(S3):51–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jazdzewski K, Dzik J, Porebski J, Rakusa-Suszczewski S, Witek Z, Wolnomiejski N (1978) Biological and populational studies on krill near South Shetland Islands, Scotia Sea and South Georgia in the summer 1976. Polskie Archiwum Hydrobiologii 25:607–631

    Google Scholar 

  • John DD (1936) The southern species of the genus Euphausia. Discov Rep 14:193–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawaguchi S (2016) Reproduction and larval development in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). In: Siegel V (ed) The biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. Springer, Cham, pp 225–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Kils U (1979) Schwimmverhalten, Schwimmleistung und Energiebilanz des antarktischen Krills, Euphausia superba. Ber Inst Meereskd Kiel 65:1–58

    Google Scholar 

  • La HS, Ha HK, Kang CY, Wahlin AK, Shin HC (2015) Acoustic backscatter observations with implications for seasonal and vertical migrations of zooplankton and nekton in the Amundsen shelf (Antarctica). Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 152:124–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagabrielle Y, Goddéris Y, Donnadieu Y, Malavieille J, Suarez M (2009) The tectonic history of Drake Passage and its possible impacts on global climate. Earth Planet Sci Lett 279:197–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lascara CM, Hofmann EE, Ross RM, Quetin LB (1999) Seasonal variability in the distribution of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. Deep-Sea Res 46:951–984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lomakina NB (1972) Phylogenetic relationship in the species of the genus Euphausia of the southern Ocean. Zool Zhurn 51:812–820 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Macaulay M (2000) Sampling krill – acoustic estimation of krill abundance. In: Everson I (ed) Krill biology, ecology and fisheries. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 20–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarov RR (1975) A study of the second maturation of euphausiid (Eucarida, Euphausiacea) females (in Russian). Zool Zhurn 54:670–681

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarov RR, Denys CJ (1981) Stages of sexual maturity of Euphausia superba Dana. BIOMASS Handb 11:13

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauchline J (1980) Measurement of body length of Euphausia superba Dana. BIOMASS Handb 4:9

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauchline J, Fisher LR (1969) The biology of Euphausiids. Adv Mar Biol 7:1–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller DGM (1983) Variation in body length measurement of Euphausia superba Dana. Pol Biol 2:17–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller DGM, Hampton I (1989) Biology and ecology of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana): a review. BIOMASS Sci Ser 9:1–166

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris DJ, Watkins JL, Ricketts C, Buchholz F, Priddle J (1988) An assessment of the merits of length and weight measurements of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Brit Antarct Surv Bull 79:27–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemoto T, Doi T, Nasu K (1981) Biological characteristics of krill caught in the Southern Ocean. In: El-Sayed S (ed) Biological investigations of marine Antarctic systems and stocks, vol II, BIOMASS. SCAR, Cambridge, pp 47–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol S, Brierley AS (2010) Through a glass less darkly – new approaches for studying the distribution, abundance and biology of Euphausiids. Deep Sea Res II 57:496–507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicol S, Foster J (2016) The fishery for Antarctic krill – its current status and management regime. In: Siegel V (ed) The biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. Springer, Cham, pp 387–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol S, Nicol D (1983) A unique adhesive structure on the pleopods of euphausiids. Crustaceana 44:163–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicol S, Foster J, Kawaguchi S (2011) The fishery for Antarctic krill – recent developments. Fish and Fishery 13:30–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ona E, Mitson RB (1996) Acoustic sampling and signal processing near the seabed: the deadzone revisited. ICES J Mar Sci 53:677–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orsi AH, Whitworth T III, Nowlin WD Jr (1995) On the meridional extent and fronts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Deep-Sea Res 42:641–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson G (1968) Studies on photophores in the Euphausiacea. Sarsia 36:1–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poleck TP, Denys CJ (1982) Effect of temperature on the moulting, growth and maturation of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) under laboratory conditions. Mar Biol 70:255–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid K, Jessopp MJ, Barrett MS, Kawaguchi S, Siegel V, Goebel ME (2004) Widening the net: spatio-temporal variability in the krill population structure across the Scotia Sea. Deep-Sea Res II 51:1275–1287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss CS (2016) Age, growth, mortality, and recruitment of Antarctic Krill, Euphausia superba. In: Siegel V (ed) The biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. Springer, Cham, pp 101–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Retamal MA, Quintana R (1982) Basic biological studies relating to the population dynamics of krill Euphausia superba Dana 1850. Cer Sci INACH 28:175–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe HSJ, Griffiths G (1993) Biological information from an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. Mar Biol 115:339–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahrhage D (1978) Zur Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung beim antarktischen Krill (Euphausia superba). Meeresforschung 26:47–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt K, Atkinson A (2016) Feeding and food processing in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). In: Siegel V (ed) The biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. Springer, Cham, pp 175–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (1982) Relationship of various length measurements of Euphausia superba Dana. Meeresforschung 29:114–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (1988) A concept of seasonal variation of krill (Euphausia superba) distribution and abundance west of the Antarctic Peninsula. In: Sahrhage D (ed) Antarctic Ocean and resources variability. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, pp 219–230

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (1989) Winter and spring distribution and status of the krill stock in Antarctic Peninsula waters. Arch FischWiss 39:45–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (1992) Review of length-weight relationships for Antarctic krill. SC-CAMLR Sel Sci Pap 9:145–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (2000) Krill (Euphausiacea) demography and variability in abundance and distribution. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57(Sup 3):151–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (2007) Size selectivity of the RMT8 plankton net and a commercial trawl for Antarctic krill. SC-CAMLR-WG-EMM-07/28, pp 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (2012) Krill stocks in high latitudes of the Antarctic Lazarev Sea: seasonal and interannual variation in distribution, abundance and demography. Polar Biol 35:1151–1177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V, Piatkowski U (1990) Variability in the macrozooplankton community off the Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 10:373–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V, Watkins JL (2016) Distribution, biomass and demography of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. In: Siegel V (ed) Biology and ecology of Antarctic krill. Springer, Cham, pp 21–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Skjoldal HR, Wiebe PH, Postel L, Knutsen T, Kaartvedt S, Sameoto D (2013) Intercomparison of zooplankton (net) sampling systems: results from the ICES/GLOBEC sea-going workshop. Prog Oceanogr 108:1–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spiridonov VA (1992) The preanal plate and spine of Euphausiacea (Crustacea Eucarida), their variability and homology (with particular reference to the austral species of the genus Euphausia DANA). Arthropodan Selcta 1:3–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiridonov VA (1996) A scenario of the Late-Pleistocene – holocene changes in the distributional range of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). Mar Ecol 17:519–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spiridonov VA, Casanova B (2010) Order Euphausiacea Dana. Crustaceana 61:5–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Taki K, Hayashi T, Naganobu M (2005) Characteristics of seasonal variation in diurnal vertical migration and aggregation of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in the Scotia Sea, using Japanese fishery data. CCAMLR Sci 12:163–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarling GA, Fielding S (2016) Swarming and behaviour in Antarctic krill. In: Siegel V (ed) The biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. Springer, Cham, pp 279–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Trathan PN, Hill SL (2016) The importance of krill predation in the Southern Ocean. In: Siegel V (ed) The biology and ecology of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. Springer, Cham, pp 321–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Voronina NM (1998) Comparative abundance and distribution of major filter-feeders in the Antarctic pelagic zone. J Mar Syst 17:375–390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins J (2000) Sampling krill. In: Everson I (ed) Krill biology, ecology and fisheries. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 8–39

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

Special thanks go to Renate Walter (Biozentrum Grindel, Zoologisches Institut Universität Hamburg) for the preparation of the SEM photographs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thuenen Institute of Sea Fisheries, Palmaille 9, 22767, Hamburg, Germany

    Volker Siegel

Authors
  1. Volker Siegel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Volker Siegel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Thuenen Institute of Sea Fisheries, Hamburg, Germany

    Volker Siegel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Siegel, V. (2016). Introducing Antarctic Krill Euphausia superba Dana, 1850. In: Siegel, V. (eds) Biology and Ecology of Antarctic Krill. Advances in Polar Ecology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29279-3_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation