The importance of Antarctic krill in biogeochemical cycles
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 18 October 2019
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature Communications
- Vol. 10 (1), 1-13
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12668-7
Abstract
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are swarming, oceanic crustaceans, up to two inches long, and best known as prey for whales and penguins – but they have another important role. With their large size, high biomass and daily vertical migrations they transport and transform essential nutrients, stimulate primary productivity and influence the carbon sink. Antarctic krill are also fished by the Southern Ocean’s largest fishery. Yet how krill fishing impacts nutrient fertilisation and the carbon sink in the Southern Ocean is poorly understood. Our synthesis shows fishery management should consider the influential biogeochemical role of both adult and larval Antarctic krill.Keywords
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