TITLE:   The swarm characteristics and regional distribution of krill in the
         eastern Ross Sea
AUTHORS: Josh Schneider, Langdon B. Quetin, Robin M. Ross and K. Daly
DATE:    2-4 August 2000
PLACE:   LTER All Scientists Meeting 2000, Long-Term Ecological Research:
	 Unifying Principles & Global Applications, Snowbird, Utah
         
	 University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
	 Poster - Session: Population Studies/Biodiversity (W65)

ABSTRACT
 The Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is a fundamental link in the Antarctic
food chain.  A thorough understanding of its abundance and distribution, at all
spatial scales, is needed to accurately describe its role in the Antarctic 
marine ecosystem.
 During the austral summer of 1999, a research cruise aboard the R.V. Nathaniel 
B. Palmer was conducted through the pack ice of the eastern Ross Sea.  Five
transects were completed running perpendicular to the continental shelf and
through five distinct environmental zones.  One of the primary goals of this
cruise was to describe the abundance and distribution (horizontal and vertical)
of krill on a regional scale.
An echo sounder was used to profile the water column horizontally and
vertically to 200 meters depth.  Computer-based analysis was then used to
obtain biomass estimates.  Net tows were performed at discrete depths to
provide both a validation of these estimates and a regional species
distribution.
 Preliminary results show that krill form distinct swarms above 100 meters.
These swarms occur primarily along the marginal ice zone with a definite
change in species distribution as the continental shelf is approached.
Swarm characteristics including depth, density, and two-dimensional size will
be obtained through further analysis.