Summary
Specimens of Euphausia superba and of E. crystallorophias from different locations were analyzed electrophoretically for protein variation. The present study extends previous genetic studies on E. superba by analyzing samples from the East Wind Drift and repeat samples from the Bransfield Strait, Elephant Island and the Weddell Sea. E. crystallorophias was collected in the Weddell Sea and around the Antarctic Peninsula in order to provide information on the breeding structure of the species in this region. For all loki taking all sampling sites together for both species except GPI in E. crystallorophias no significant deviation of phenotype distributions from random mating expectations was observed. Furthermore, the allele distributions in all polymorphic loci for both species were found to be homogeneous. Estimates of genetic distance between samples within each species are low (0.0001 to 0.0003 in E. superba and 0.0001 to 0.0002 in E. crystallorophias), and are consistent with results expected for samples from a single interbreeding population. Estimate of genetic distance between these two species was 0.9729. These results suggest that for each species specimens from all locations investigated in the Bransfield Strait and Weddell Sea belong to a single genetically homogeneous population. A possible mechanism for maintaining such homogeneity and the implications for fishery management are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson RC (1982) Isozyme variation in Euphausiids. Doctoral dissertation, University of East Anglia, Fisheries Laboratory, Lowestoft
Ayala FJ, Valentine JW (1979) Genetic variability in the pelagiv environment: a paradox? Ecology 60:24–29
Deacon GER (1937) The hydrology of the Southern Ocean. Discovery Rep 15:1–124
Drescher HE, Hubold G, Piatkowski U, Plötz J, Voß J (1983) Das Biologische Programm der Antarktis-I-Expedition mit FS Polarstern. Ber Polarforsch 12:1–34
Everson I (1981) Antarctic krill. In: SCAR 1981: Biological investigations in marine antarctic systems and stocks (BIOMASS), Vol 2. Selected contributions to the Woods Hole conference on living resources of the Southern Ocean 1976 pp 31–45
Fevolden SE (1979) Investigations on krill (Euphausiacea) sampled during the Norvegian Antarctic Reseach Expedition 1976–77. Sarsia 64:189–198
Fevolden SE, Ayala FJ (1981) Enzyme polymorphism in the Antarctic krill (Euphausiacea); genetic variation between populations and species. Sarsia 66:167–181
Hardy GH (1908) Mendelian proportions in a mixed population. Science 28:49–50
Hempel I, Hempel G (1982) Distribution of euphausiid larvae in the southern Weddell Sea. Meeresforsch 29:253–266
Hempel I, Hempel G, Baker A de C (1979) Early life history stages of krill (Euphausia superba) in Bransfield Strait and Weddell Sea. Meeresforsch 27:267–281
Hempel G, Heywood RB (1982) Joint biological expedition RRS John Biscoe, February 1982. Ber Polarforsch 5:1–39
Kohnen H (1982) Die Filchner-Schelfeis-Expedition 1980/81. Ber Polarforsch 1:1–50
Lubimova TG, Makarov RR, Maslennikov VV, Shevtsov VV, Shust KV (1980) Results of Soviet research into assessment of stocks, ecology and the role of krill inthe Antarctic ecosystems. Mimeo
MacDonald CM, Schneppenheim R (1983) Breeding structure and stock identity in the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana. Ber Polarforsch (Sonderh) 4:240–245
Mackintosh CM (1972) Life cycle of antarctic krill in relation to ice and water conditions. Discovery Rep 36:1–94
Mackintosh CM (1973) Distribution of postlarval krill in the Antarctic. Discovery Rep 36:95–156
Marr JWS (1962) The natural history and geography of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). Discovery Rep 32:33–34
Mauchline J, Fisher LR (1969) The biology of euphausiids. Adv Mar Biol 7:1–454
Nei M (1972) Genetic distance between populations. Am Nat 106:283–292
Schneppenheim R, Kühl S, Janssen G (1984) Lactate dehydrogenase polymorphism in krill (Euphausia superba) detected by IEF in Agarose gels and Cellogel® electrophoresis Electrophoresis 84:131–133
Schneppenheim, R, MacDonald CM (1984) Genetic variation and population structure of krill (Euphausia superba) in the Atlantic sector of antarctic waters and off the Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 3:19–28
Schneppenheim R, Weigmann-Haass R (in press) Morphological and electrophoretic studies on the genus Themisto (Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) from the South and North Atlantic. Polar Biol
Siegel V (1982) Investigations on Krill (Euphausia superba) in the southern Weddell Sea. Meeresforsch 29:244–252
Stein M (1982) Fischereiozeanographische Untersuchungen während FIBEX 1981. Arch Fischeriwiss 33:35–52
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kühl, S., Schneppenheim, R. Electrophoretic investigation of genetic variation in two krill species Euphausia superba and E. crystallorophias (Euphausiidae). Polar Biol 6, 17–23 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446236
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446236