Spatial Distribution of Krill (Euphausia Superba) and Other Zooplankton off Queen Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract

The Euphausia superba Dana, popularly known as the krill is the richest single species resource of the Antarctic waters and they form the chiefforage for whales, seals, birds, fishes and squids of this ecosystem. Several estimates regarding the magnitude of krill resource which has a circumpolar distribution within the Antarctic Convergence have been made. However, paucity of substantial data added with the behavioural characteristics of these animals such as forming into patches, shoals, schools and swarms have made it difficult to assess the real stock of these protein rich organisms