Anonymous: L.Quetin, R.Ross/Energetics of adult and larval krill, AntJ, Sep92
Palmer LTER Contribution #(none)

Antarctic Journal of the United States, September 1992, Volume 27, No. 3,
Page 5: Energetics of adult and larval krill (\fIEuphausia superba\fR).
\fILangdon Quetin and Robin Ross, University of California at Santa Barbara\fR.
\fIEuphausia superba\fR, antarctic krill, is a major component of the
southern-ocean ecosystem, yet little is known about the physiological ecology
of this species.  Our objective is to quantify the role of ice biota in the
winter survival of krill larvae.  From year to year, we have observed
differences in the physiological condition of larvae during the winter.  These
differences could lead to differences in the survival of the young-of-the-year
and, consequently, the strength of any single year class.  We will study the
processes underlying these differences during the early and late winter.
Low-food availability in the fall, after the summer phytoplankton blooms,
suggests that larvae in early winter experience several months of near
starvation.  If an additional food source, such as ice biota found on the
underside of the sea ice, did not exist, these larvae might not survive the
winter.  During a year of heavy ice cover, larvae found under the sea ice in
late winter should have had access to this additional food source and are
likely to be in better physiological condition at the end of the winter than
they were at the beginning.  We will compare environmental conditions in open
water and under the sea ice and will sample larvae in both environments to
determine their physiological condition.  During two month-long-cruises to the
southern oceans, we will quantify nutritional contribution of ice biota to the
total energy demand of krill larvae.  Our investigation will address several
significant questions about the wintering energetics of larval krill, in
particular the role of ice biota in winter survival and subsequent
recruitment. (S-014)