Summary
Krill were collected in January–February 1986, north of Prydz Bay, Antarctica. Their gonad history was reconstructed from observations of live krill maintained on board ship, and subsequently fixed for histology. Size, molt-stage and external stage of sexual maturity were recorded for each individual. Males appeared to be continually producing sperm. Among mature females, the ovaries had various compositional zones: germinal zones and 1 to 3 batches of maturing oocytes (in primary or secondary vitellogenesis) were simultaneously present. Therefore a female can successively lay at least three batches of eggs, at short intervals corresponding to the duration of one cycle of secondary vitellogenesis. Most post-spawn females had reverted to juvenile status (ovary reduced to germinal zones). Large females were found with an already reorganized ovary with numerous secondary oogonia and very young oocytes. It is concluded that oogenesis occurs before the winter rest and that only the vitellogenetic cycles are postponned until the next reproductive season.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adiyodi RG, Subramoniam T (1983) Arthropoda-Crustacea. In: Adiyodi KG, Adiyodi RG (eds) Reproductive biology of invertebrates, vol 1. Oogenesis, oviposition, and oosorption. Wiley and Sons, pp 443–495
Bargmann HE (1937) The reproductive system of Euphausia superba. Discovery Rep 14:237–249
Bargmann HE (1945) The development and life history of adolescent krill Euphausia superba. Discovery Rep 23:103–176
Buchholz F (1982) Drach's molt staging system adapted for Euphausiids. Mar Biol 66:301–305
Charniaux-Cotton H (1985) Vitellogenesis and its control in Malacostracan Crustacea. Am Zool 25:197–206
Clarke A, Morris DJ (1983) Towards an energy budget for krill; the physiology and biochemistry of Euphausia superba Dana. Polar Biol 2:69–86
Cuzin-Roudy J, Tchernigovtzeff C (1985) Chronology of the female molt-cycle in Siriella armata M.-Edw. (Crustacea: Mysidacea) based on marsupial development. J Crust Biol 5:1–14
Dhainaut A, de Leersnyder M (1976) Etude cytochimique et ultrastructurale de l'évolution ovocytaire du crabe Eriocheir sinensis. 1. Ovogenèse naturelle. Arch Biol (Bruxelles) 87:261–282
Denys CF, McWhinnie MA (1982) Fecundity and ovarian cycles of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Can J Zool 60:2414–2423
Ettershank G (1984) A new approach to the assessment of longevity in the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. J Crus Biol 4 (special no. 1):295–305
Gabe M (1968) Techniques histologiques. Masson et Cie, Paris, pp 1091
George RY (1984) Biology of the Antarctic krill: what are the fundamental hypotheses? J Crust Biol 4 (special no. 1):9–12
Ikeda T, Dixon P (1982) Observations on molting in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Aust J Mar Freshwater Res 33:71–76
Ikeda T, Dixon P, Kirkwood J (1985) Laboratory observations of moulting, growth and maturation in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Polar Biol 4:1–18
Makarov RR, Denys CJ (1980) Stages of sexual maturity of Euphausia superba Dana. BIOMASS Handb 11:1–11
Mauchline J (1968) The development of the eggs in the ovary of euphausiids and estimation of fecundity. Crustaceana (Leiden) 14:155–163
Mauchline J (1980) The biology of mysids and euphausiids. Adv Mar Biol 18:1–681
Mauchline J (1981) Measurement of body-length of Euphausia superba Dana. BIOMASS Handb 4:1–9
Mauchline J, Fisher LR (1969) The Biology of euphausiids. Adv Mar Biol 7:1–454
Nemoto T, Doi T, Nasu K (1976) Biological characteristics of krill revealed by the study on krill caught by fisheries operations in the Antarctic. Scientific Committee on Antarctic research. Meeting of Specialists of Marine resources in the Southern Ocean, Aug 17–21, 1976. Woods Hole Mass
Poleck TP, Denys CF (1982) Effect of temperature on the molting, growth and maturation of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) under laboratory conditions. Mar Biol 70:255–265
Raab F (1915) Beitrag zur Anatomie und Histologie der Euphausiidae. Arb Zool Inst Univ Wien 20:125–150
Ross RM, Quetin LB (1983) Spawning frequency and fecundity of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Mar Biol 77:201–205
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cuzin-Roudy, J. Gonad history of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba dana during its breeding season. Polar Biol 7, 237–244 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287420
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287420