Abstract
Live female Euphausia superba, Dana were collected from Prydz Bay, East Antarctica in January 1985, and observations of intermoult period, growth and maturation changes were made on individuals which spawned and were subsequently maintained in the laboratory for 12 mo. Over this experimental period an instrinsic cyclic reproductive pattern was observed. Following spawning, there was a regression of the female copulatory organ, the thelycum, coupled with a decrease in body length and an increase in the krill's mean intermoult period. This was followed by a period of sexual re-maturation, associated with positive growth and a decrease in the mean intermoult period. This study indicates multi-year spawning of E. superba and a life-span greater than 4 yr.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature cited
Baker, A de D., M. R. Clarke and M. J. Harris: the NIO combination net (RMT 1+8) and further developments of rectangular midwater trawls. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 53, 167–184 (1973)
Bargmann, H. E.: The reproductive system of Euphausia superba. ‘Discovery’ Rep. 14, 325–350 (1937)
Bargmann, H. E.: The development and life-history of adolescent and adult krill, Euphausia superba. ‘Discovery’ Rep. 23, 103–176 (1945)
Clarke, A. and D. Morris: Towards an energy budget for krill: the physiology and biochemistry of Euphausia superba Dana. Polar Biol. 2, 69–86 (1983)
Denys, C. J. and M. A. McWhinnie: Fecundity and ovarian cycles of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba (Crustacea, Euphausiacea). Can. J. Zool. 60, 2414–2423 (1982)
Denys, C. J., T. P. Poleck and M. M. O'Leary: Biological studies of krill, austral summer 1979–80. Antarctic J. U.S. 15, 146–147 (1981)
Ettershank, G.: Age structure and cyclical annual size change in the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana. Polar Biol. 2, 189–193 (1983)
Guillard, R. R. L. and J. H. Ryther: Studies of marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hustedt and Detonula confervacea (Cleve) Gran, Can. J. Microbiol. 8, 229–239 (1962)
Hampton, I.: Preliminary report on the FIBEX acoustic work to estimate the abundance of Euphausia superba. In: Proceedings of the BIOMASS Colloquium 1982, pp 165–175. Ed. by T. Nemoto and T. Matsuda. Tokyo: National Institute of Polar Research 1983
Harrington, S. A. and T. Ikeda: Laboratory observations on spawning, brood size and egg hatchability of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba from Prydz Bay, Antarctica. Mar. Biol. 92, 231–235 (1986)
Hempel, G.: FIBEX — an international survey in the Southern Ocean: review and outlook. In: Proceedings of the BIOMASS Colloquium 1982, pp 1–15, Ed. by T. Nemoto and T. Matsuda. Tokyo: National Institute of Polar Research 1983
Ikeda, T.: Life history of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba: a new look from an experimental approach. Bull. mar. Sci. 37, 599–608 (1985)
Ikeda, T.: Mature antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) grown from eggs in the laboratory. J. Plankton Res. (In press). (1987)
Ikeda, T. and P. Dixon. Body shrinkage as a possible overwintering mechanism of the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 62, 143–151 (1982)
Ikeda, T., P. Dixon and J. Kirkwood: Laboratory observations of moulting, growth and maturation of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Polar Biol. 4, 1–18 (1985)
Ikeda, T., A. W. Mitchell, J. H. Carleton and P. Dixon: Transport of living Antarctic zooplankton to a tropical laboratory: a feasibility study. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 31, 271–274 (1980)
Ikeda, T. and P. G. Thomas: Moulting interval and growth of juvenile Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) fed defferent concentrations of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum in the laboratory. Polar Biol. (In press). (1987)
Ivanov, B. G.: On the biology of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Mar. Biol. 7, 340–351 (1970)
Kikuno, T. and A. Kawamura: Observations of the ovarian eggs and spawning habits in Euphausia superba Dana. In: Proceedings of the BIOMASS Colloquium 1982, pp 104–121. 3 plates. Ed. by T. Nemato and T. Matsuda. Tokyo: National Institute of Polar Research 1983
Mackintosh, N. A.: Life cycle of Antarctic krill in relation to ice and water conditions. ‘Discovery’ Rep. 36, 1–94 (1972)
Makarov, R. R.: A study of repeated maturation of females (Eucarida, Euphausiacea). Zool. Zh. 54, 670–681 (1975)
Makarov, R. R.: Reproduction of Euphausia superba (Dana) (Crustacea: Euphausiacea). Trudy vses. nauchno-issled. Inst. morsk. ry b. Khoz. Okeanogr. 110, 85–89 (1976)
Makarov, R. R. and C. J. Denys: Stages of sexual maturity of Euphausia superba Dana. BIOMASS Handb. Ser. 11, 1–11 (1980)
Marr, J.: The natural history and geography of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). ‘Discovery’ Rep. 32, 33–464 (1962)
Mauchline, J.: The biology of the mysids and euphausiids. Adv. mar. Biol. 18, 1–681 (1980)
McWhinnie, M. A. and C. J. Denys: The high importance of the lowly krill. Nat. Hist. mar. 89 (3), 66–73 (1980)
McWhinnie, M. A., C. J. Denys, R. Parkin and K. Parkin: Biological investigation of Euphausia superba (krill). Antarctic J. U.S. 14, 163–164 (1979)
Morris, D. J. and J. Priddle: Observations on the feeding and moulting of the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba Dana, in winter. Br. Antarct. Surv. Bull. 65, 57–63 (1984)
Murano, M., S. Segawa and M. Kato: Moult and growth of the Antarctic krill in laboratory. Trans. Tokyo Univ. Fish. 3, 99–106 (1979)
Simpson, R. D.: The reproduction of some littoral molluses from Macquarie Island (sub-Antarctic). Mar. Biol. 44, 125–142 (1977)
Stepnik, R.: All-year population studies of Euphausiacea (Crustacea) in the Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands Antarctic). Pol. polar Res. (Warsaw) 31, 53–72 (1982)
Zar, H. H.: Biostatistical analysis, 718 pp. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall 1984
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. Humphrey, Sydney
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thomas, P.G., Ikeda, T. Sexual regression, shrinkage, re-maturation and growth of spent female Euphausia superba in the laboratory. Mar. Biol. 95, 357–363 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409565
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409565