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A photographic documentation of the development of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) from egg to early juvenile

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Abstract

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a key species in Antarctic marine ecosystems, as well as an important species in the Southern Ocean fishery. Here, we provide the first detailed photographic documentation of embryonic and larval development of Antarctic krill over a 5-month developmental period under controlled laboratory conditions. Developing embryos and larvae were photographed every 3 h and every 5 days, respectively. Our results indicated a developmental time of approximately 6 days for embryos and 138 days for larvae (0.5 °C). This study provided baseline biometry information for future investigations of Antarctic krill development under changing environmental conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. B. Meyer, Dr. J. Cuzin-Roudy, and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments. We also thank Dr. J. Melbourne-Thomas for critical reading of the early draft of this manuscript. R. King, T. Waller, D. Lang, and J. Mclvor deserve special thanks for their supports and maintenance of the krill aquarium at the Australian Antarctic Division. Funding was partially provided by Holsworth wildlife research endowment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia

    Zhongnan Jia, Patti Virtue & Kerrie M. Swadling

  2. Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Private Bag 80, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia

    Zhongnan Jia & So Kawaguchi

  3. Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia

    So Kawaguchi

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  1. Zhongnan Jia
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  2. Patti Virtue
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  3. Kerrie M. Swadling
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  4. So Kawaguchi
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Correspondence to Zhongnan Jia.

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Jia, Z., Virtue, P., Swadling, K.M. et al. A photographic documentation of the development of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) from egg to early juvenile. Polar Biol 37, 165–179 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-013-1420-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-013-1420-7

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