Quantifying Antarctic krill connectivity across the West Antarctic Peninsula and its role in large-scale Pygoscelis penguin population dynamics

Abstract

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are considered a keystone species for higher trophic level predators along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) during the austral summer. The connectivity of krill may play a critical role in predator biogeography, especially for central-place foragers such as the Pygoscelis spp. penguins that breed along the WAP during the austral summer. Antarctic krill are also heavily fished commercially; therefore, understanding population connectivity of krill is critical to effective management. Here, we used a physical ocean model to examine adult krill connectivity in this region using simulated krill with realistic diel vertical migration behaviors across four austral summers. Our results indicate that krill north and south of Low Island and the southern Bransfield Strait are nearly isolated from each other and that persistent current features play a role in this lack of inter-region connectivity. Transit and entrainment times were not correlated with penguin populations at the large spatial scales examined. However, long transit times and reduced entrainment correlate spatially with the areas where krill fishing is most intense, which heightens the risk that krill fishing may lead to limited krill availability for predators.

Combining population genomics and biophysical modelling to assess connectivity patterns in an Antarctic fish

“…Furthermore, in a recent study, Gallagher et al. (2023) indicated that ocean currents may play a key role‐limiting inter‐region connectivity at the WAP, isolating krill populations between Low Island and Bransfield Strait. Also, Parker et al.…”

Plasticity and seasonality of the vertical migration behaviour of Antarctic krill using acoustic data from fishing vessels

“…A 12 h period of vertical migration behaviour also corresponds well with observations of DVM for juvenile krill [ 40 ], a secondary period of diel locomotion activity [ 77 ] and with periodic expressions of some genes involved in endogenous clocks [ 79 ] although these were not specific to juvenile krill. A mechanistic understanding of this behavioural plasticity and its drivers would significantly advance our understanding of krill ecology and help improve modelling studies that incorporate krill behaviour [ 28 , 69 , 86 ].…”