Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of simulated light regimes on maturity and body composition of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of different light regimes on the development of sexual maturity and body composition (carbon, nitrogen, lipid and protein) of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, was studied over 12 weeks under laboratory conditions. Krill were exposed to light-cycle regimes of variable intensity to simulate Southern Ocean summer, autumn and winter conditions, respectively using: (1) continuous light (LL; 200 lux max), (2) 12-h light and 12-h darkness (LD 12:12; 50 lux max), and (3) continuous darkness (DD). The sexual maturity of female and male krill exposed to LL and LD 12:12 showed an accelerated succession of external maturity stages during the experimental period, while krill exposed to continuous darkness showed no changes in external maturity during the course of the study. Changes in the maturity development of krill between the different light regimes are reflected in changes in body composition. Krill exposed to LL and LD 12:12 showed an increase in lipid utilization, indicating that the development of external maturation may be fuelled preferentially by lipid reserves. In contrast, values of total lipid content of krill held under continuous darkness indicated an unchanged lipid catabolism during the course of the study. Thus, the maturity development of krill was affected either directly or indirectly by the different simulated light conditions. Based on these results, and observations on the effects of simulated light regimes on feeding and metabolic rates of krill available from a previous study, we suggest that the Antarctic light regime is an essential cue governing the seasonal cycle of krill physiology and maturity, and highlight the importance of this environmental factor in the life history of krill.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anger K, Harms J (1990) Elemental (CHN) and proximate biochemical composition of decapod crustacean larvae. Comp Biochem Physiol 97B:69–80

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson A, Snÿder R (1997) Krill-copepod interactions at South Georgia, Antarctica, I. Omnivory by Euphausia superba. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 160:63–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson A, Meyer B, Bathmann U, Stübing D, Hagen W, Schmidt K (2002) Feeding and energy budget of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba at the onset of winter. II. Juveniles and adults. Limnol Oceanogr 47:953–966

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balzer I, Espinola IR, Fuentes-Pardo B (1997) Daily variations of immunoreactive melatonin in the visual system of crayfish. Biol Cell 89:539–543

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchholz F, Saborowski R (2000) Metabolic and enzymatic adaptations in northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica, and Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Can J Fish Aquat Sci (Suppl 3):115–129

  • Cullen M, Kaufmann RS, Lowery MS (2003) Seasonal variation in biochemical indicators of physiological status in Euphausia superba from Port Foster, Deception Island, Antarctica. Deep-Sea Res II 50:1787–1798

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuzin-Roudy J (2000) Seasonal reproduction, multible spawning, and fecundity in northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica, and Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Can J Fish Aquat Sci (Suppl 3):6–15

  • Denys CJ, Mcwhinnie MA (1982) Fecundity and ovarian cycles of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba (Crustacea, Euphausiacea). Can J Zool 60:2414–2423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen W, Van Vleet ES, Kattner G (1996) Seasonal lipid storage as overwintering strategy of Antarctic krill. Mar Eciol Prog Ser 134:85–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen W (2000) Lipids. In: Harris RP, Wiebe PH, Lenz J, Skjoldal HR, Huntley M (eds) ICES Zooplankton Methodology Manual. Academic press, NY, pp 113–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagen W, Kattner G, Terbrüggen A, Van Vleet ES (2001) Lipid metabolism of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba and its ecological implications. Mar Biol 139:95–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardeland R, Poeggeler B (2003) Non-vertebrate melatonin. J Pineal Res 34:233–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirano Y, Matsuda T, Kawagushi S (2003) Breeding antarctic krill in captivity. Mar Fresh Behav Physiol 36:259–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawaguchi S, Candy SG, King R, Naganobu M, Nicol S (2006a) Modelling growth of Antarctic krill. I. Growth trends with sex, length, season, and region. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 306:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawaguchi S, Yoshida T, Finley L, Cramp P, Nicol S (2006b) The krill maturity cycle: a conceptual model of the seasonal cycle in Antarctic krill. Polar Biol. doi:10.1007/s00300-006-0226-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarov RR, Denys CJ (1981) Stages of sexual maturity of Euphausia superba Dana. BIOMASS Handbook 11:1–13

    Google Scholar 

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

  • Meyer B, Saborowski R, Atkinson A, Buchholz F, Bathmann U (2002) Seasonal differences in citrate synthase and digestive activity in larval and postlarval Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Mar Biol 141:855–862

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quetin LB, Ross RM (1991) Behavioural and physiological characteristics of the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Am Zool 31:49–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross RM, Quetin LB (2000) Reproduction in Euphausiacea. In: Everson I (ed) Krill biology, ecology and fisheries. Blackwell Cambridge, pp 150–181

  • 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, New York, pp 219–230

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Teschke M, Kawaguchi S, Meyer B (2007) Simulated light regimes affect feeding and metabolism of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Limnol Oceanogr 52:1046–1054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas PG, Ikeda T (1987) Sexual regression, shrinkage, re-maturation and growth of spent female Euphausia superba in the laboratory. Mar Biol 95:357–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilden AR, Alt J, Brummer K, Groth R, Herwig K, Wilson A, Wilson S (2001) Influence of photoperiod on N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin in the fiddler crab Uca pugilator. Ge Comp Endocrinol 122:233–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vivien-Roels B, Pévet P (1993) Melatonin: presence and formation in invertebrates. Experientia 49:642–647

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was conducted at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) within the scope of the project “Experiments on live Krill” and was part of the collaborative research agreement between the AAD and the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. The authors thank all krill scientists and staff of the AAD for their hospitality and support during our visit. We also thank R. King and T. Yoshida for their professional and friendly support in the aquarium, and S. Nicol for constructive comments on the earlier version of the manuscript. Thanks to W. Hagen and D. Stübing for the introduction to lipid analyses and S. Spahić and C. Lorenzen for their help in the laboratory. The experiments conducted during this study comply with the current laws of Australia and was conducted under the auspices of AAS Project 2337. This work was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Scientific Division Biological Oceanography, Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Mathias Teschke & Bettina Meyer

  2. Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Australian Government Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia

    So Kawaguchi

Authors
  1. Mathias Teschke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. So Kawaguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bettina Meyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mathias Teschke.

Additional information

Communicated by M. Wahl.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Teschke, M., Kawaguchi, S. & Meyer, B. Effects of simulated light regimes on maturity and body composition of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba . Mar Biol 154, 315–324 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0925-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0925-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation