Population Dynamics and Body Size Structure of the Antarctic Krill Euphausia superba in the Bransfield Strait and South Shetland Islands

Abstract

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a key species in the marine ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean, with important ecological and economic value. This study used 6 years of midwater trawl data (including over 160,000 krill length measurements) to study the spatio-temporal changes and population composition of Antarctic krill, aiming to provide useful advice for better fishery management. We found that the krill fishing grounds are moving southward, and smaller krill prefer ice-rich areas in southern latitudes. Commercial fishing targets high-density krill areas rather than choosing larger krill. Importantly, the increase in fishing efforts in recent years has not made krill smaller. Environmental factors, geographical location, and the density of Antarctic krill swarms all exhibit nonlinear relationships with the average body length of Antarctic krill, and these factors all significantly affect its average body length. Our study is of great significance for understanding the population dynamics of Antarctic krill in the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a keystone species in the marine ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean, bringing about significant ecological and economic value. The spatio-temporal distribution of Antarctic krill directly affects commercial fishing; meanwhile, changes in krill population structure play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. This study analyzed six years of midwater trawl data, including over 160,000 krill length measurements, to elucidate spatio-temporal dynamics and population composition, providing actionable insights for improved fishery management. Here, we reveal southward migration shifts in krill fishing grounds, with smaller individuals favoring ice-rich southern latitudes. Commercial krill fishing operations preferentially targeted high-density fishing grounds rather than selecting larger individuals. Among the catches, the age 1+ class accounted for the highest proportion at 42.80%, followed by the age 2+ class at 39.42%, with individuals ≥3+ accounting for 17.44%. Although the mean krill length experienced a decline in 2017, it demonstrated a sustained recovery in subsequent years, reaching peak dimensions in 2022. This maximum-growth year also exhibited the highest proportion (12.6%) of individuals within ≥4 age classes. Consequently, the sustained increase in fishing effort in recent years has not resulted in a reduction in the size of individual krill. The mean krill length showed a significant positive correlation with the depth (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) and temperature (r = 0.26, p < 0.01) of the krill cluster, and a significant negative correlation with resource density (r = −0.20, p < 0.01), year (ρ = −0.31, p < 0.01) and latitude (ρ = −0.31, p < 0.01). The length exhibited U-shaped temporal trends, and latitudinal and longitudinal nonlinearity. Body size was positively correlated with depth (p < 0.01), whereas as temperature increased, body size first increased and then remained constant. As density increased, the mean krill length increased first and then slowly decreased. Recent warming intensifies population shifts, with potential cascading effects on ecosystem structure and carbon sequestration.