Abstract
Abstract Krill was sampled in the Weddell Sea, farther south than ever before, and off Bouvet-oya. Five species were found: Euphausia superba, E. crystallorophias, E. frigida, E. triacantha, and Thysanoessa macrura. E. superba and E. crystallorophias were the most abundant species north and south of 74° S respectively. Length frequency analyses suggest that E. superba from the inner Weddell Sea takes three years to reach maturity. This population differed in several aspects from the populations farther north. E. crystallorophias and T. macrura were registered south to 77°45′ S, the southernmost localisation investigated. The material gives no clear evidence whether these species take one or two years to reach maturity. Their spawning activity seems to start earlier in the season than for E. superba. E. frigida and E. triacantha were only-found off Bouvetoya. Continuous echosounder recordings revealed that the total abundance of krill in the southern parts of the Weddell Sea was low, as was also the abunda...
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