Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) eat salps

 Feeding behaviour of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) on salps was observed in shipboard experiments during the 1994/1995 Kaiyo Maru Antarctic Ocean research cruise. The feeding rate was more than 0.5 salp/krill per day. When offered ethanol extracts of four prey types, salps, phytoplankton, krill and polychaetes, krill preferred the salp extracts. This evidence implies that the substances extracted from salps were most attractive to krill. These results might indicate a tight ecological relationship between krill and salps. Received: 24 May 1995/Accepted: 8 October 1995     

Collagenolytic serine proteinase from Euphausia superba Dana (Antarctic krill).

1. A serine proteinase isolated from E. superba shows collagenolytic properties: it acts on collagens from Achilles tendon (type I and V) and reconstituted fibrils of calf skin collagen under conditions that do not denature the substrates. 2. At 25 degrees C and pH 7.5 the enzyme both splits the calf skin collagen in solution to the fragments TCA and TCB and catalyses the conversion of dimeric molecules to monomeric chains. 3. The enzyme exhibits strong chymotrypsin-like and lower trypsin-like activities. 4. All the enzyme activities are inhibited to the same degree by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), N alpha-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), chicken ovomucoid (CHOM), chymostatin and leupeptin. None of the activities is inhibited by chelating agents and L-cysteine. 5. pH-Optima of the proteinase in protein substrates hydrolysis (6.0-6.2) are lower than those of synthetic substrates cleavage (7.8-8.0 in the case of BzTyrOEt and 8.7-8.9 for BzArgOEt). 6. Four from nine cysteine residues present in the enzyme molecule possess free thiol-groups. Since the enzyme is inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and iodoacetic acid (IAA), the role of its thiol-groups has been discussed.     

Genetic homogeneity of krill (Euphausia superba Dana) in the Southern Ocean

Summary Development of a comprehensive picture of the genetic population structure of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) has been hampered by a lack of genetic data from two major areas of the species' distribution, the Bellingshausen Sea and the Ross Sea. Evidence from earlier studies of a discrete Bellingshausen Sea population was based on anomalous allele frequencies in two sample sets that were collected near the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula rather than in the Bellingshausen Sea proper. In this paper we describe the first biochemical genetic data obtained on krill from the central Bellingshausen Sea and from the Ross Sea. Analyses of eight polymorphic loci in samples from these two areas have failed to provide any evidence of population structuring within the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean, and have indicated that Pacific sector krill cannot be genetically discriminated from Atlantic sector krill or Indian Ocean sector krill. These findings further support the hypothesis of a single circumpolar breeding population of Antarctic krill.     

Susceptibility of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) to ultraviolet radiation

We irradiated captive juvenile Euphausia superba in the laboratory with lower than spring surface levels of ultraviolet-B, ultraviolet-A and photosynthetically active radiation, in order to examine their response in terms of mortality and generalised activity. Levels of photosynthetically active radiation 3–5 times below surface irradiance caused krill to die within a week, while animals in the dark survived. Addition of ultraviolet-B typical of depths up to 15 m were found to significantly accelerate mortality and lead to a drop in activity in all experiments. A drop in activity in krill exposed to ultraviolet-A wavelengths was evident without an increase in mortality. The protein content of animals from various treatments was found not to vary. Accepted: 10 January 1999     

Identification and quantification of prostaglandins in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

Summary The amount and types of prostaglandins present in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana.) were estimated. Samples of fresh krill were collected during III Antarctic Cruise of RV Polarstern in November 1984. Prostaglandins were extracted, separated by column and thin-layer chromatography and identified as PGA₂, PGB₂, PGE₂, PGF₂. Quantitative measurements were made by a biological method (Vane cascade), concentrations of the most abundant prostaglandins PGE₂ and PGF₂ being 1.6 and 4 ng/1 g of fresh tissue, respectively. Such low level of prostaglandin would not be harmful when using krill as a food supplement.     

Modelling individual growth of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana

Summary Growth of the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is not easily determined from net catches nor from laboratory experiments. Therefore, in support of these methods, a phenomenological model was constructed which in its present state describes the growth of a single krill specimen under periodically limiting food conditions with summer seasons of variable lengths. Published data of krill body length vs. age and of the annual cycle of primary production of algae in the Drake Passage were used to formulate equations and to calculate growth curves. At 1,000 days after hatching, the model predicts a body length of 63 mm, growth being delayed by 380 days compared with constant, optimal feeding conditions. Final length, weight and time delay are related to the amount of food supplied and compared with published population growth curves.     

Spatial and temporal variability in reproductive timing of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

Spawning dates of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, were calculated from larval stage compositions, and corrected using data on maturity stage composition of the adult krill. Both original and literature data obtained from the Antarctic Peninsula-Bellingshausen Sea area and around the Antarctic continent were used. A time series (1975/76–1986/87) for several subareas of the Antarctic Peninsula-Bellingshausen Sea area indicates considerable variation in the krill spawning start, maxima and completion. In particular years (1975/76, 1980/81), krill spawning in the western Atlantic sector began relatively early, was intensive, and completed early. Some years (1977/78, 1981/82) were characterised by long and non-synchronised krill spawning. Compiled data sets for the Atlantic sector (1980/81), the entire Antarctic (1983/84) and the east Indian-west Pacific Antarctic waters (1981–85) reveal some spatial patterns in krill reproductive timing. In relation to spawning timing variation, the habitats of the krill population fall into five categories: (1) areas with an early beginning (late Novemberearly December) and a variable, but normally long, duration (3–3.5 months) of krill spawning; this is generally the southern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, (2) areas with an early beginning, but a short duration of krill spawning (Gerlache Strait), (3) areas with a highly variable (within 1–1.5 months) beginning and a relatively long duration (ca. 3 months) of krill spawning (Bransfield Strait, Palmer Archipelago), (4) areas with a late beginning (late December–January) and a long duration of krill spawning (Bellingshausen Sea, D'Urville Sea, and Balleny Islands area), and (5) areas with a delayed beginning, but a very short duration (ca. 1.5 months) of krill spawning (Ross Sea slope, probably the Coastal Current area off the Lasarev Sea shelf and in the south-eastern Weddell Sea. These patterns can be partly explained by peculiarities of the ice regime in particular areas and by routes of krill movement within water circulation systems.     

Characterization of proteinases from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)

Fractions of three trypsin-like proteinases, TL I, TL II, and TL III, a chymotrypsin-like proteinase, CL, two carboxypeptidase A enzymes, CPA I and CPA II and two carboxypeptidase B enzymes, CPB I and CPB II, from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) have been characterized with respect to purity by the means of capillary electrophoresis, CE, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The masses of the trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like proteinases were determined to be 25,020, 25,070, 25,060, and 26,260Da for TL I, TL II, TL III, and CL, respectively. The masses of the CPA enzymes are likely 23,170 and 23,260Da, whereas the CPB enzyme masses likely are 33,730 and 33,900Da. The degradation efficiency and cleavage pattern of the trypsin-like proteinases were studied with native myoglobin as a model substrate using CE, MALDI-TOF-MS, and nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry (nESI-MS). The degradation efficiency of the trypsin-like proteinases was found to be approximately 12 and 60 times higher compared to bovine trypsin at 37 degrees C and 1-3 degrees C, respectively. All three fractions of trypsin-like proteinases showed a carboxypeptidase activity in combination with their trypsin activity.     

Trophic behavior of Euphausia superba Dana in laboratory conditions

Summary Experiments conducted at US Palmer Station, 1980 on antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, attempted 1) to quantify and describe behavioral features of ingestion, food clearance and egestion, and 2) to test the hypotheses that feeding and swarming are mutually exclusive events, and that feeding is a cyclical, diel phenomenon. Ingestion was quantified in a large flow-through aquarium. Food clearance and egestion were estimated visually and fluorometrically in E. superba individually kept in one liter jars. Ingestion was directly proportional to chlorophyll concentration (0.65–11.5 gChl/l) and did not change significantly as a function of krill density (200–9000 krill/m³). Ingestion and egestion did not show significant diel trends or mean day-night differences in a 16 h light-8 h dark cycle. Our results suggested that feeding may occur in nature: at swarm densities, within a wide range of phytoplankton concentrations, and may be sustained throughout the diel cycle. We propose that feeding and swarming are co-occurring events. The theoretical basis at the individual and group levels, and its implications, are briefly discussed.In memory of Mary Alice McWhinnie (1922–1980)This research was supported by the University of Chile, National Science Foundation and Chilean Antarctic Institute     

Molecular evidence for genetic subdivision of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) populations.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) is a key species in the Antarctic food web and occurs on a circumcontinental scale. Population genetic structure of this species was investigated by sequence analysis of the ND1 mitochondrial gene in four population samples collected at different geographical localities around the Antarctic continent. Results indicate the existence of significant genetic differences between samples, and we suggest that oceanographic barriers could be sufficiently strong and temporally stable to restrict gene flow between distinct areas. Moreover, our data indicate that Antarctic krill is not at mutation-drift equilibrium and that the species possibly has a low effective population size as compared to the census size.     

Apparent independence of the spawning and moulting cycles in female Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

Summary Sixty female Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) spawned in shipboard experiments and the interval between egg-laying and ecdysis was noted. The number of eggs laid per female ranged from 263–3662, most females produced only one batch of eggs before moulting, and the post-spawn ovaries of all females contained few, if any, mature oocytes. As reported in other studies, the total number of eggs produced per female was not well correlated with body size. Females appeared to spawn at all times during the moulting cycle and although no diurnal rhythm in spawning was observed, moulting occurred mainly at night-time despite the animals being kept in near-constant darkness. No evidence of synchronous moutling was detected.     

Preliminary study on chromosomes of Antarctic krill,Euphausia superba Dana

Summary Meiotic chromosomes of antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, collected at Admiralty Bay, are described and the method used to obtain this genetic material is reported. Forty seven dividing meiotic nuclei at diakinesis and metaphase I from seminal glands of four males were examined, all with n= 17 bivalents. The results were compared with those obtained by other workers using krill specimens from the opposite side of the Antarctic continent and apparent differences in chromosome numbers were observed. Possible reasons for these differences and the potential for using cytogenetic techniques to study populations of krill are discussed.     

The influence of feeding on the metabolic activity of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

Summary The influence of feeding on the metabolic activity of juvenile krill was assessed from 24h experiments in which krill were incubated with various concentrations of diatoms (Chaetoceros calcitrans, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira eccentrica, Fragilariopsis vanheurkii), newly hatched Artemia nauplii and latex beads. Krill fed on the larger food more efficiently, with reluctant feeding on latex beads. Feeding of krill expressed as clearance rates was poorly correlated with their oxygen uptake rates. Instead, a positive correlation was found between the oxygen uptake rates and ingestion rate (except for latex beads). The result implies that the specific dynamic action is the major cause of the increased oxygen uptake of krill. Krill fed diatoms increased both ammonia and phosphate excretion with increasing ingestion rate, but only phosphate excretion was increased in parallel with ingestion rate for those fed Artemia nauplii. Assuming the daily ration of krill in the field is 5% of the body weight, and the major food source is phytoplankton, oxygen uptake, ammonia excretion and phosphate excretion rates of wild krill are estimated to be 1.6, 4.5 and 7.8, respectively, times the rates of non-feeding krill in 24h laboratory experiments. Krill offered various kinds of food showed different metabolic quotients (O/N, N/P and O/P ratios). While no functional relationship was seen between the metabolic quotient and the ingestion rate of krill fed Artemia nauplii, those fed Fragilariopsis showed a progressive decrease in O/N, N/P, and O/P ratios as their ingestion rates increased.     

Laboratory observations of moulting,growth and maturation in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

Summary Observations of intermoult period, growth and maturation were made on krill which were transported from Antarctic waters and maintained in the laboratory in Australia over a three year period. The mean intermoult period (IP) for each of 10 specimens, with initial body lengths of 24.7=46.8 mm, kept at -0.5° C varied from 22.0 to 29.8 days (overall mean = 26.6 days). These measurements of IP are significantly longer than those obtained in some previous studies. Differences in experimental temperatures, light, body sizes and growth patterns of the specimens between studies are unlikely to be causes of these dissimilar results. The pattern of changes in body length (BL) varies from one individual to the next. The greatest increase in BL over a series of 4–5 moults ranged from 0.024 to 0.070 mm/day, which is equivalent to 0.0020 to 0.0086/day in body weight, assuming exponential growth. This maximum growth rate is about half the rate predicted from the growth scheme of Mauchline (1980) for wild krill. Comparison of growth data for other euphausiids suggests that Mauchline's scheme produces anomalous growth rate. The slower growth rate observed in the present study would extend the estimated life span of krill from 3–4 years, as calculated by Mauchline (1980), to 4–7 years. If krill undergo body shrinkage during the Antarctic winter the estimated life span might be even longer. Examination of the external sexual characters of moults showed both progression and regression of maturity stage in association with changes in BL.     

An endo-(1----3)-beta-glucanase and a collagenolytic serine proteinase from Euphausia superba Dana (Antarctic krill).

Two digestive enzymes from Antarctic krill: an endo-(1----3)-beta-glucanase and a serine proteinase which specifically cleaves native collagen were characterized with regard to their specificity and accommodation to acting at low temperatures. Their presence in the crustacean digestive apparatus proves that krill is an omnivorous organism, and this fact should be considered in estimations of its biomass stock.     

Characterization of a new phosphonocerebroside, N-methyl-2-aminoethylphosphonylglucosylceramide, from the antarctic krill, Euphausia superba

A novel phosphonglycosphingolipid was purified from the whole tissue of the antarctic krill, Euphausia superba by successive column chromatography on DEAE- and QAE-Sephadex and silicic acid (Iatrobeads). The structure was elucidated by means of IR, FAB-MS, 1H-NMR, GC and GC-MS analyses of the water-soluble products after complete and partial acid hydrolysis, and methylation analysis of a product of hydrogen fluoride degradation; it was identified to be a phosphonocerebroside, 6'-O-(N-methyl-2-aminoethylphosphonyl)Glcp beta 1----1ceramide. The ceramide moiety was composed of tetradecasphingenine and octadecasphingatriene as the main sphingoids, and monounsaturated C22- and C24-acids and their 2-hydroxy homologues as the major fatty acids.     

Distribution,Abundance and population structure of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) in the Prydz Bay region,Antarctica

Summary This paper presents results of net sampling carried out on four marine science cruises, between 1981 and 1985, in the Prydz Bay region of Antarctica by the Australian Antarctic Division. Krill exhibited a patchy distribution and overall low abundance. The majority of sampling sites in January 1985 returned no post-larval krill or densities of <1 individual 1000 m^-3. The estimated mean abundance of E. superba in January 1985 was 6 individuals or 2 g (wet wt.) 1000 m^-3 integrated for the upper 200 m of the water column which represented 3.4% of the total zooplankton biomass. No more than five years-groups, including the larvae, were observed in Prydz Bay, with mean lengths of groups 1+, 2+, 3+ and 4+ being 24, 38, 46 and 53 mm (standard 1), respectively in the middle of January. A high proportion of naupliar stages observed in January 1985 indicated that spawning in Prydz Bay begins in January and examination of adult maturation showed that the spawning continues at least to March.