Distribution and Age Structure of Euphausiids Larvae at the Western Antarctic Peninsula (Subarea 48.1)

Abstract

Euphausiids (Euphausiacea) are the key species in the trophic structure of ecosystems of the Southern Ocean. The data on the distribution and age structure of Euphausiids larvae were collected during R/V "Polarstern" expedition in January 2011 in the West Antarctic Peninsula region. Three types of distribution were found out among the four Euphausiids species: offshore (T. macrura and E. frigida), inshore (E. crystallorophias) and distribution at the shelf slope (E. superba). The densities of E. superba larvae in 2011 were higher than the results of previous studies in the 70's and 80's. This indicates a high recruitment rates in spite of rapid climatic changes in the Antarctic Peninsula region.