Collaborative Research: Seasonal Trophic Roles of Euphausia Superba (STRES)

磷虾是南极生态系统中的关键物种，为微观浮游生物与企鹅和鲸鱼等魅力十足的巨型动物之间提供了营养联系。最近的证据表明，磷虾可能不完全是食草动物，这引入了通过磷虾为基础的生态系统的碳通量的新途径的潜力。 我们对磷虾的看法从草食性动物到杂食性动物的转变引发了几个问题：气候变化引起的海冰覆盖范围、厚度和持续时间的变化预计将改变磷虾的捕食领域，并对磷虾支持的捕食者产生后续影响。这种底栖猎物的性质？磷虾的联系，可能是关键的季节性周期的其他部分以外的研究春季开花，尚未确定。 DNA技术将用于识别和量化猎物生物。该项目将测量磷虾的原位摄食生态和行为，并最终测量这一关键物种的成功。总体目标是调查南极西部半岛（WAP）地区威廉敏纳湾（Wilhelmina Bay）地区南极磷虾（Euphausia superba）原位摄食和游泳行为的季节变化。了解气候变化的生物影响对社会和经济目标至关重要。项目科学家还将与海洋和环境报道小组合作，为年度记者会议设计演讲。

Krill, Euphausia superba, is a keystone species in the Antarctic ecosystem and provides the trophic link between microscopic plankton and charismatic megafauna such as penguins and whales. Recent evidence suggests krill may not be exclusively planktonivorous, which introduces the potential of new pathways of carbon flux through krill based ecosystems. A change in our view of krill from one of being herbivores to omnivores opens up several questions.Climate induced change in the extent, thickness and duration of overlying sea ice coverage is expected to change the prey fields available to krill, and to have subsequent effects on the suite of predators supported by krill. The nature of this benthic prey?krill link, which may be crucial in those parts of the seasonal cycle other than the well studied spring bloom, is yet to be determined. DNA techniques will be used to identify and quantify the prey organisms. This project will measure the in situ feeding ecology and behavior of krill and, ultimately, the success of this key species. An overall goal isto investigate seasonal changes in Euphausia superba in-situ feeding and swimming behavior in the Wilhelmina Bay region of the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) area, known to be a region of changing climate. Understanding the biological impacts of climate change is important to societal and economic goals. The project scientists will additionally team with a marine and environmental reporting group to design presentations for an annual journalist meeting.