Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution and diel vertical migration of the euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thysanoessa macrura was found throughout Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, during four surveys carried out from 30 October to 23 November 1989, with the highest abundance being 332 individuals m−2 (0–290 m). Reproduction had begun just before the surveys took place, as indicated by the presence of females with attached spermatophores and of larvae. Thirteen-month old females were reproductive. Larvae in 9 depth strata between 0–290 m were dominated by calyptopis stages, and developed from calyptopis 1 to furcilia 1 during November. Larval abundance was not correlated to chlorophyll a concentration, which showed a consistent east-west gradient in Gerlache Strait with highest concentrations (>30 mg chlorophyll a m−3) in bays of the Antarctic Peninsula. Survival of larvae appeared to not be affected by phytoplankton abundance. Older T. macrura showed strong diel vertical migration between the surface at night and depths to 120 m during mid-day. Larvae were consistently found in the chlorophyll a-rich upper 50 m during night (90%) and day (81%), while adults and juveniles were found in the upper 50m at night (83%), but only 16% remained there during the day.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amos AF, Jacobs SS, Hu JH (1990) RACER: Hydrography of the surface waters during the spring bloom in the Gerlache Strait. Ant J US 25:131–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinton E (1985) The oceanographic structure of the eastern Scotia Sea-III. Distribution of euphausiid species and their developmental stages in 1981 in relation to hydrography. Deep-Sea Res 32:1153–1180

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinton E, Townsend A (1991) Development rates and habitat shifts in the Antarctic neritic euphausiid Euphausia crystallorophias, 1986–87. Deep-Sea Res 38:1195–1211

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke A (1984) Lipid content and composition of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana. J Crusta Biol 4(1):285–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly KM, Macauly MC (1988) Abundance and distribution of krill in the ice edge zone of Weddell Sea, austral spring 1983. Deep-Sea Res 35:21–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagen W (1988) Zur Bedeutung der Lipide im antarktischen Zooplankton. Ber Polarforsch 49:1–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempel, I (1981) Euphausiid larvae in the Scotia Sea and adjacent waters in the summer 1977/78. Meeresforsch 29:53–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempel I, Marschoff E (1980) Euphausiid larvae in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Meeresforsch 28:32–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewes CD, Holm-Hansen O, Sakshaug E (1985) In: Siegfried WR, Condy PR, Laws RM (eds) Antarctic Nutrient Cycles and Food Webs, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg New York pp 277–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm-Hansen O, Mitchell BG (1991) Spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton and primary production in the western Bransfield Strait region. Deep-Sea Res 38:961–980

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm-Hansen O, Vernet M (1990) Phytoplankton distribution and rates of primary production during the austral spring bloom. Antarctic J US 25:141–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL (1985) Food web of an Antarctic midwater ecosystem. Mar Biol 89:197–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntley ME, Brinton E (1991) Mesoscale variation in growth and early development of Euphausia superba Dana in the western Bransfield Strait region. Deep-Sea Res 38:1213–1240

    Google Scholar 

  • Kittel W (1988) Euphausiid larvae in the Scotia Front west of Elephant Island (BIOMASS III, October–November 1986). Pol Polar Res 9:305–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Kittel W, Stepnik R (1983) Distribution of Euphausia crystallorophias, E. frigida, E. triacantha and Thysamoessa macrura (Crustacea, Euphausiacea) in the southern Drake Passage and Bransfield Strait in February and March 1981. Pol Polar Res 4:7–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Kittel W, Witek Z, Czykieta H (1985) Distribution of Euphausia frigida, Euphausia crystallorophias, Euphausia triacantha and Thysanoessa macrura in the southern part of Drake Passage and in the Bransfield Strait during the 1983–1984 austral summer BIOMASS-SIBEX. Pol Polar Res 6:133–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancraft TM, Torres JJ, Hopkins TL (1989) Micronekton and macrozooplankton in the open waters near the Antarctic ice edge zones (AMBRIEZ1983 and 1986). Polar Biol 9:225–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancraft TM, Hopkins TL, Torres JJ, Donnelly J (1991) Oceanic micronektonic/macrozooplanktonic community structure and feeding in ice covered Antarctic waters during the winter (AMBRIEZ 1988). Polar Biol 11:157–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeb VJ, Shulenberger E (1987) Vertical distributions and relations of euphausiid populations off Elephant Island, March 1984. Polar Biol 7:363–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomakina NB (1966) The euphausiid fauna of the Antarctic and notal regions. In: “Biological Reports of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition 1955–58”, Vol. 2, pp 260–342. Israel Programme for Scientific Translation, Jerusalem

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarov RR (1979) Larval distribution and reproductive ecology of Thysanoessa macrura (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) in the Scotia Sea. Mar Biol 52:377–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr JWS (1962) The natural history and geography of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Discovery Reports 32:33–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauchline J (1980) The Biology of euphausiids. In: Blaxter JHS, Russel FS, Yonge M (eds) Advances in Marine Biology 8, Academic Press, London and New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauchline J, Fisher LR (1969) The Biology of Euphausiids. In: Russel FS, Yonge M (eds) Advances in Marine Biology 7, Academic Press, London and New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mc Whinnie MA, Dennys CJ (1978a) Biological studies of Antarctic krill, austral summer 1977–78. Antarctic J US 13:133–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Mc Whinnie MA, Dennys CJ (1978b) Antarctic marine living resources with special reference to krill, Euphausia superbar: Assessment of adequacy of present knowledge. A report submitted to the National Science Foundation

  • Murano M, Segawa S, Kato M (1979) Moult and growth of the Antarctic krill in laboratory. Trans Tokyo Univ Fish 3:99–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemoto T (1959) Food of baleen whales with reference to whale movements. Sci Rep Whale Res Inst 14:149–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Niiler P, Illeman J, Hu JH (1990) Lagrangian drifter observations of surface circulation in the Gerlache and Bransfield Straits. Antarctic J US 25:134–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Niiler PJ, Amos AF, Hu JH (1991) Water masses and 200 m relative geostrophic circulation in the western Bransfield region. Deep-Sea Res 38 943–960

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordhausen W (1992) Distribution and growth of larval and adult Thysanoessa macrura (Euphausiacea) in the Bransfield Strait region, Antarctica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 83:185–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Piatkowski U (1985) Distribution, abundance and diurnal migration of macrozooplankton in Antarctic surface waters. Meeresforsch 30:264–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Piatkowski U (1989) Macrozooplankton communities from Weddell Sea surface waters, Antarctica. Pesq antart bras 1:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Pires AMS (1986) Vertical distribution of the euphausiid larvae (Crustacea) in the Bransfield Strait during the 1st Brazilian Antarctic Expedition (summer 1982/83). Acad Brasil Cienc 58:43–51

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinhardt SB, Van Vleet ES (1986) Lipid composition of twenty two species of Antarctic midwater Zooplankton and fish. Mar Biol 91:149–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Rustad D (1934) On the Antarctic euphausiid from the “Norwegia” Expedition 1929–30 and 1930–31. Sci Res. Norweg Ant Exped 12:1–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruud JH (1932) On the biology of Southern Euphausiidae. Hvalråd Skr 2:42–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel V (1987) Age and growth of Antarctic Euphausiacea (Crustacea) under natural conditions. Mar Biol 96:484–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair M (1987) Marine populations. University of Washington Press. Seattle

    Google Scholar 

  • Smetacek V, Scharek R, Nöthig EM (1990) Seasonal and regional variation in the pelagial and its relationship to the life history of krill. In: Kerry KR, Hempel G (eds) Antarctic ecosystems, Springer Verlag Berlin, pp 103–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith SL, Schnack-Schiel SB (1990) Polar Zooplankton. In: Smith W (ed) Polar Oceanography, Part B: Chemistry, Biology, and Geology. Academic Press, New York, pp 527–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinogadrov M (1970) Vertical distribution of the oceanic zooplankton. Keter, Jerusalem (Israel Program for scientific translation)

  • Wiebe PH, Burt KH, Morton AW (1976) A multiple opening/closing net and environmental sensing system for sampling Zooplankton. J Mar Res 34:313–326

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 92093-0202, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Walter Nordhausen

Authors
  1. Walter Nordhausen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nordhausen, W. Distribution and diel vertical migration of the euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica. Polar Biol 14, 219–229 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239170

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239170

Keywords

Search

Navigation