Age Structure and Spatial Distribution of Euphausia superba Larvae off the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean

The Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, 1850, is a species forming high biomass and, therefore, playing a major role in the Antarctic marine food web. The age structure and patterns of spatial distribution of E. superba larvae in the waters of the Bransfield Strait (Antarctic Sound, Powell Basin), and off the South Orkney Islands, were studied based on data collected through a research survey in January and February 2022. Eggs and larvae (naupliar, calyptopis, and furcilia stages) of E. superba were found in these regions. Eggs and nauplii were concentrated in the southern, deep-sea part of the Antarctic Sound and over the northeastern and southwestern slopes of the Powell Basin, while calyptopis and furcilia larvae were concentrated north of the South Orkney Islands. The larvae abundance increased in an easterly direction. Four groups of communities comprising krill larvae at different development stages were identified. These groups were located in two subregions with the border between them running off the South Orkney Islands. The distribution and abundance of E. superba larvae showed a clear relationship with environmental conditions, in particular with a combination of such factors as sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a concentration.

Automated summary

The Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is a key species in the Antarctic marine food web, and its larvae distribution is influenced by environmental factors such as sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a concentration. This study identified four communities of krill larvae at different developmental stages, with different distributions in the Bransfield Strait and off the South Orkney Islands. The findings provide valuable insights into the age structure and spatial patterns of E. superba larvae in these regions.