Abstract
Experiments conducted at US Palmer Station, 1980 on antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, attempted 1) to quantify and describe behavioral features of ingestion, food clearance and egestion, and 2) to test the hypotheses that feeding and swarming are mutually exclusive events, and that feeding is a cyclical, diel phenomenon. Ingestion was quantified in a large flow-through aquarium. Food clearance and egestion were estimated visually and fluorometrically in E. superba individually kept in one liter jars. Ingestion was directly proportional to chlorophyll concentration (0.65–11.5 μgChl/l) and did not change significantly as a function of krill density (200–9000 krill/m3). Ingestion and egestion did not show significant diel trends or mean day-night differences in a 16 h light-8 h dark cycle. Our results suggested that feeding may occur in nature: at swarm densities, within a wide range of phytoplankton concentrations, and may be sustained throughout the diel cycle. We propose that feeding and swarming are co-occurring events. The theoretical basis at the individual and group levels, and its implications, are briefly discussed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
