Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC05 Zooplankton Production, Physiology, and Ecology

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Poehls, D, K, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA, dpoehl00@umail.ucsb.edu

Ross, R, M, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA, robin@icess.ucsb.edu

Quetin, L, B, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA, langdon@icess.ucsb.edu

PALMER LTER: INTERANNUAL COMPARISON OF LIPID RESERVES FOR REPRODUCTION IN EUPHAUSIA SUPERBA

Lipid content and the condition factor of the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, a central species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, were analyzed for different sexual maturity classes and for interannual variation within maturity class. It has been proposed that the reproductive cycle and capacity for females in any one year are based on their fat (lipid) reserves accumulated during spring months. The C:N ratio and the condition factor (ug C per volume of krill), both calculated from elemental carbon and nitrogen analysis, should both increase as the individual puts on lipid reserves and/or oocytes develop. If these condition factor indices correlate with the lipid reserves, a much simpler and inexpensive technique for revealing interannual variation in lipid reserves can be developed. Samples collected during 1996 and 1999, a highly reproductive year and an average year, respectively, on the annual summer cruises for the Palmer LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) were compared. Interannual differences were insignificant but sexual maturity classes show clear separation associated with the development and release of lipid rich eggs.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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