KRILLGUARD: Safeguarding the future of the Southern Ocean

KRILLGUARD项目的目的是保护南大洋生态系统，重点保护生态系统中的关键物种南极磷虾（Euphasia superba）。据估计，南极磷虾的生物量在3 -5亿吨之间，种群数量在300-500万亿之间，是地球上最成功的动物物种之一。它在营养循环中起着核心作用，是浮游植物的消费者，也是企鹅、海豹和鲸鱼等大型动物的猎物。此外，通过每年捕捞价值超过2亿美元的磷虾业，它具有重要的商业意义。然而，由于气候变化，南极磷虾面临着重大挑战。作为一种恒温物种，它适应-2到5摄氏度的狭窄温度范围，这使它对温度上升非常敏感。在过去的90年里，南极水域已经变暖了1摄氏度，磷虾也向极地更冷的水域移动。季节性栖息地的变化可能会破坏磷虾生命周期的关键阶段。为了有效地保护该物种和管理捕捞活动，了解南极磷虾的多样性以及该物种如何应对未来的气候变化是至关重要的。KRILLGUARD项目建议对南大洋南极磷虾的种群遗传学和适应能力进行全面研究。该项目利用自然历史博物馆的大量历史藏品（20万英镑）、英国南极调查局最近收集的样本（10万英镑）和英国南极领土渔船上的当代样本，旨在揭示南极磷虾的种群动态和恢复能力。这些知识对于有效的管理和保护工作至关重要。具体而言，我们将解决以下首要问题：1。在人为气候变化和大规模捕捞开始之前，历史上磷虾的多样性是什么样的？在过去的一个世纪里，气候变化和捕食压力是如何影响当代磷虾多样性的？磷虾如何改变其生物学以应对气候变化和捕食压力？磷虾对气候变化的适应能力如何？KRILLGUARD项目的成果具有深远的潜在应用和效益。该项目的研究结果将使决策者和更广泛的研究界了解气候变化和捕捞对南极磷虾种群的影响。这些知识将有助于制定保护战略、可持续捕捞做法和保护南大洋生态系统的政策。该项目对种群动态、恢复力和遗传多样性的深入了解将有助于在不同种群之间轮换捕捞配额，确保维持遗传多样性并避免过度捕捞脆弱亚种群。此外，该项目开发南极磷虾特有的基因组DNA标记的努力将促进渔业监测，并使基于数据的政策能够更快地制定。通过释放博物馆藏品的基因组潜力，该项目将有助于更好地了解气候变化对南极生态系统的影响。这将为今后的基因组学研究、生物多样性变化研究和博物馆藏的利用提供基础。总的来说，KRILLGUARD项目旨在通过研究南极磷虾并了解其对气候变化和捕捞压力的反应来保护南大洋生态系统。通过其科学努力，该项目旨在促进健康和有弹性的环境，应对全球环境挑战，并支持南极生态系统的可持续管理。

The KRILLGUARD project aims to protect the Southern Ocean ecosystem by focusing on Antarctic Krill (Euphasia superba), a keystone species in the ecosystem. With an estimated biomass between 300-500 million tonnes and a population of 300-500 trillion individuals, Antarctic krill is one of the most successful animal species on Earth. It plays a central role in nutrient cycling, as a consumer of phytoplankton and as prey for large animals such as penguins, seals, and whales. Additionally, it has commercial importance through the krill fishing industry which has an annual catch value exceeding $200 million. However, Antarctic krill faces significant challenges due to climate change. As a stenothermic species, it is adapted to a narrow temperature range of -2 to 5C, making it highly sensitive to rising temperatures. Over the past 90 years Antarctic waters have warmed 1C, and the krill have moved polewards to colder waters. Changing seasonal habitats could disrupt critical stages in krill's life cycle. To effectively protect this species and manage fishing activities, it is crucial to understand the diversity of Antarctic krill and how this species will respond to future climate change.The KRILLGUARD project proposes a comprehensive study of the population genetics and adaptive capacity of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean. Utilizing extensive historical collections from the Natural History Museum (>20,000), recent collected samples from the British Antarctic Survey (>10,000) and contemporary samples from fishing vessels in British Antarctic territories, the project aims to uncover population dynamics and resilience of Antarctic krill. This knowledge will be vital for effective management and conservation efforts. Specifically, we will address the following overarching questions:1. What did historical krill diversity look like prior to the onset of anthropogenic climate change and widespread fishing?2. How has contemporary krill diversity been impacted by changes in climate change and predation pressure over the last century?3. How has krill changed its biology in response to climate change and predation pressure?4. How adaptable are krill to climatic change?The outcomes of the KRILLGUARD project have far-reaching potential applications and benefits. The project's findings will inform policymakers, and the wider research community about the impact of climate change and fishing on Antarctic krill populations. This knowledge will help shape conservation strategies, sustainable fishing practices, and policies to protect the Southern Ocean ecosystem. The project's insights into population dynamics, resilience, and genetic diversity will aid in the rotation of fishing quotas across differentpopulations, ensuring the maintenance of genetic diversity and the avoidance of overfishing vulnerable subpopulations. Moreover, the project's efforts to develop genomic DNA markers specific to Antarctic krill will facilitate fisheries monitoring and enable quicker development of policies based on data. By unlocking the genomic potential of museum collections, the project will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem. It will provide a foundation for future research ingenomics, biodiversity change, and the utilization of natural history collections.Overall, the KRILLGUARD project seeks to safeguard the Southern Ocean ecosystem by studying Antarctic krill and understanding its response to climate change and fishing pressure. Through its scientific endeavors, the project aims to contribute to a healthy and resilient environment, tackle global environmental challenges, and support sustainable management of the Antarctic ecosystem.