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Cavan EL, Belcher A, Atkinson A, Hill SL, Kawaguchi S, McCormack S, Meyer B, Nicol S, Ratnarajah L, Schmidt K, Steinberg DK, Tarling GA, Boyd PW. The importance of Antarctic krill in biogeochemical cycles. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4742. [PMID: 31628346 PMCID: PMC6800442 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12668-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are swarming, oceanic crustaceans, up to two inches long, and best known as prey for whales and penguins - but they have another important role. With their large size, high biomass and daily vertical migrations they transport and transform essential nutrients, stimulate primary productivity and influence the carbon sink. Antarctic krill are also fished by the Southern Ocean's largest fishery. Yet how krill fishing impacts nutrient fertilisation and the carbon sink in the Southern Ocean is poorly understood. Our synthesis shows fishery management should consider the influential biogeochemical role of both adult and larval Antarctic krill.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Cavan
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK.
| | - A Belcher
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - A Atkinson
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - S L Hill
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - S Kawaguchi
- Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, TAS, Australia
| | - S McCormack
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - B Meyer
- Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, Oldenburg, 26129, Germany
| | - S Nicol
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - L Ratnarajah
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - K Schmidt
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - D K Steinberg
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - G A Tarling
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - P W Boyd
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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