Meganyctiphanes Research Articles

Timing of migratory baleen whales at the Azores in relation to the North Atlantic spring bloom

Each year, a phytoplankton spring bloom starts just north of the North Atlantic Sub- tropical Gyre, and then expands northwards across the entire North Atlantic. Here, we investigate whether the timing of the spring migration of baleen whales is related to the timing of the phyto- plankton spring bloom, using 4 yr of dedicated whale observations at the Azores in combination with satellite data on ocean chlorophyll concentration. Peak abundances of blue whale Bal- aenoptera musculus, fin whale B. physalus, humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae and sei whale B. borealis were recorded in April-May. The timing of their presence tracked the onset of the spring bloom with mean time lags of 13, 15, 15 and 16 wk, respectively, and was more strongly related to the onset of the spring bloom than to the actual time of year. Baleen whales were actively feeding on northern krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica in the area, and some photo-iden- tified individuals stayed in Azorean waters for at least 17 d. Baleen whales were not observed in this area in autumn, during their southward migration, consistent with low chlorophyll concentra- tions during summer and autumn. Our results support the hypothesis that baleen whales track the secondary production generated by the North Atlantic spring bloom, utilizing mid-latitude areas such as the Azores as foraging areas en route towards their summer feeding grounds.

Foraging ecology of Mediterranean fin whales in a changing environment elucidated by satellite ­tracking and baleen plate stable isotopes

We investigated seasonal shifts in diet and distribution of fin whales Bala en optera physalus occurring in the western Mediterranean Sea. For this purpose, we combined carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) along 10 baleen plates collected from stranded fin whales between 1975 and 2002 with satellite tag deployments on 11 fin whales during summer 2003. Baleen plate stable isotopes were compared with those of the krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica, the main prey of fin whales in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Two plates collected near Malaga, Spain, exhibited larger δ13C variations, while only smaller variations could be detected in the other 8. While all mean baleen plate results were consistent with the δ13C signature of Mediterranean M. norvegica, the most depleted δ13C values were intermediate between those of Atlantic and Mediterranean M. norvegica, suggesting westward migrations perhaps extending to the Strait of Gibraltar but not extensive, prolonged feeding in the Northeast Atlantic. This pattern was confirmed by satellite tracking; 1 out of 8 fin whales we successfully tracked left the Mediterranean for the Atlantic. Longer-term changes in isotopic signatures of baleen plates exhibited significant depletion trends, indicating that changes due to increasing input of nutrients and anthropogenic carbon are occurring in the western Mediterranean Sea ecosystem.

Krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) swim faster at night

Krill are key members in marine food webs, and measurement of swimming speed is vital to assess their bioenergetic budgets, feeding, and encounters with predators. We document a consistent and marked diel signal in swimming speed of krill in their natural habitat that is not related to diel vertical migration. The results were obtained using a bottom‐mounted, upward‐looking echo sounder at 150‐m depth in the Oslofjord, Norway, spanning 5 months from late autumn to spring at a temporal resolution of ~1–2 records s−1. Swimming speed was assessed using acoustic target tracking of individual krill. At the start of the registration period, both daytime and nocturnal average swimming speeds of Meganyctiphanes norvegica were ~ 3.5 cm s−1 (~ 1 body lengths ([bl] s−1) in waters with oxygen concentrations of ~ 15–20% O2 saturation. Following intrusion of more oxygenated water, nocturnal average swimming speeds increased to ~ 10 cm s−1 (~ 3 bl s−1), i.e., more than double that of daytime swimming speeds in the same period. We hypothesize that krill activity during the first period was limited by oxygen, and the enhanced swimming at night subsequent to the water renewal is due to increased feeding activity under lessened danger of predation in darkness.

Long-term seasonal and interannual variations of krill spawning in the lower St Lawrence estuary, Canada, 1979-2009

This study describes the long-term seasonal and interannual variations in krill spawning using abundance of krill eggs collected during an on-going long-term monitoring program at an anchor station in the lower St Lawrence Estuary from 1992 to 2009 and data collected in the same region in 1979 to 1980. The long-term seasonal semi-monthly climatology in egg abundance revealed that krill generally reproduced during two periods, i.e. in late spring (mid-May to late June) and in late summer (August to mid-September), when phytoplankton biomass in the upper 50 m was greater than 75 mg chlorophyll a m ―2 . The identification of krill eggs to the species level in 2007 revealed that Meganyctiphanes norvegica egg abundance was related to the biomass of phytoplankton averaged over the month prior to sampling, corresponding to the duration of one spawning cycle (two intermolt periods) known for this species. Overall krill egg abundance varied significantly between years, showing high abundance every 3―5 years with no long-term interannual trend. The annual mean egg abundance normalized for the duration of krill spawning showed the same interannual long-term pattern. Both egg abundance indices were independent of the annual phytoplankton biomass, indicating that interannual variations in krill spawning biomass would be the most likely candidate to explain interannual variability in egg abundance. We propose that such normalized annual egg abundance based on high-resolution seasonal sampling could be a useful index of interannual variations in krill spawning biomass which is otherwise difficult to sample.

Food utilization of two pelagic crustaceans in the Greenland Sea: Meganyctiphanes norvegica (Euphausiacea) and Hymenodora glacialis (Decapoda, Caridea)

Large pelagic crustaceans from Greenland Sea waters, the northern krill Meganyc- tiphanes norvegica (Euphausiacea) and the decapod shrimp Hymenodora glacialis (Caridea), were captured in depths down to 1500 m and studied with respect to their physiological food utilization abilities. Both species showed distinct differences in the amount of total lipids (TLs), lipid class and fatty acid (FA) compositions as well as proteolytic enzyme activities. In M. norvegica, the overall amount of TLs and storage lipids was much lower than in H. glacialis, and triacylglycerols formed the major lipid fraction with a mean of 48% TLs. Major FAs comprised the trophic markers 20:1(n-9) and 22:1(n-11), indicating the ingestion of calanid copepods. Additionally, the FAs 22:6(n-3), 18:1(n-9) and 16:0 prevailed. In H. glacialis, TLs (mean = 44% dry mass) were about twice as high as in krill, with wax esters comprising up to 89% TLs. H. glacialis seems to accumulate these lipids as energy reserves to survive periods of food limitation. Moreover, high lipid levels, particularly wax esters, also help to maintain neutral buoyancy. The major FA in H. glacialis was 18:1(n-9); other dominant FAs were 20:1(n-9) and 22:1(n-11), typical of calanid copepods, as well as the diatom trophic marker 16:1(n-7). Both species showed omnivorous feeding behaviour with a strong tendency towards carni- vory. Total proteolytic activities in midgut gland tissue were higher in M. norvegica than in H. glacialis. In M. norvegica, proteinases were dominated by serine proteinases, whereas cysteine proteinases formed the major group in H. glacialis. High proteolytic activity in M. norvegica indicates a high digestive potential for proteins and efficient utilization of prey. The presence of different pro- teinase classes in both species may be due to different group-specific enzyme expression patterns between euphausiids and caridean decapods. Both species follow highly deviating life strategies, as reflected by their specific lipid and enzymatic characteristics.

Distribution and diversity of open-ocean, near-bottom macroplankton in the western Mediterranean: Analysis at different spatio-temporal scales

We analyzed the distribution, diversity, and composition of western Mediterranean macroplankton (excluding gelatinous taxa) in the water column over depths of ca. 550–850 m, with special attention to near-bottom (0–1.5 and ca. 5–77 m above the bottom, mab) levels, and including data from three areas (off the coasts of Catalonia, and to the NW, and SE of Mallorca, Balearic Islands) in the period 1991–2008. Spatio-temporal changes in macroplankton abundance were evaluated as follows: (i) by seasonal sampling in 2007 off the Catalonian coast, (ii) by comparing Catalonian and Balearic Island slopes, and (iii) by comparing a fixed station on the Catalonian slope (at 550–800 m depth) at decadal (1991/1992–2007/2008) time scales. Diversity (in terms of species richness, S) was greater (i) at ca. 5–77 mab than at 0–1.5 mab, (ii) over the insular slopes of the Balearic Island (around Mallorca) than over the mainland Catalonian slopes, and (iii) in the period 1991/1992 than in 2007, likely related to higher values of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index in 1991/1992. In most analyses species composition was strongly influenced by the degree of stratification and homogenization of the water column in summer–autumn and winter–spring respectively and by location (longitude). Changes consisted mainly of higher density of macroplankton (e.g. abundance of the dominant euphausiids Nematoscelis megalops, Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Euphausia krohni and of the fish Cyclothone braueri) between June and October, parallel to an increase in the T and S close to the bottom. This coincided with changes in the flow of Levantine intermediate water (LIW) in the area. Aggregation of adult forms of the dominant species close to the bottom in summer–autumn could be favored because summer is the period of highest density of food – copepods, mainly Calanus helgolandicus – near the bottom off the Catalan slope. The formation of a thermocline in the water column and the reinforcement of the permanent thermohaline front at the shelf-slope break during summer at ca. 400 m in the Balearic Basin may also enhance this tendency toward greater aggregation of deep macroplankton under stratified water column conditions.

Large pelagic fish, swordfish, bluefin and small tunas, in the Ligurian Sea: biological characteristics and fishery trends

This article presents a review and summary of the data on large pelagic fish, collected over the period 1990–2007, thanks to national and European Community research programmes. Swordfish are present in the Ligurian Sea at all life history stages. Time series of longline fishing catch per unit effort (CPUE) values show a good exploitation status, possibly related to the dismission of past questionable fishing technics (e.g. ‘spadare’ nets). CPUE values were also negatively related to North Atlantic oscillation: climatic factors probably had synergic effects. Bluefin is present in the Ligurian Sea with mainly schools of young fish aged 1–4 years, which feed on small pelagic fish and on the Ligurian krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica. Recent limitations on catches have severely reduced local fishing activities. Following the dismission of purse seiners, artisanal hook-based fisheries should be maintained, regardless of the length of fish caught, as a way of monitoring stock status. The two most abundant species of small tuna, Sarda sarda and Auxis rochei rochei, are present in the Ligurian Sea at all life stages. In particular, Auxis rochei rochei is a commercially neglected species which, in terms of larval occurrence, is the most abundant in the Mediterranean. Physiomorphological and genetic studies have been recently carried out in order to improve forthcoming exploitation.

Spatial associations between large baleen whales and their prey in West Greenland

This study combined data on fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, minke whale B. acutorostrata, and sei whale B. borealis sightings from large-scale visual aerial and ship-based surveys (248 and 157 sightings, respectively) with synoptic acoustic sampling of krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Thysanoessa sp. abundance in September 2005 in West Greenland to examine the relationships between whales and their prey. Krill densities were obtained by converting relationships of volume backscattering strengths at multiple frequen- cies to a numerical density using an estimate of krill target strength. Krill data were vertically inte- grated in 25 m depth bins between 0 and 300 m to obtain water column biomass (g m -2 ) and trans- lated to density surfaces using ordinary kriging. Standard regression models (Generalized Additive Modeling, GAM, and Generalized Linear Modeling, GLM) were developed to identify important explanatory variables relating the presence, absence, and density of large whales to the physical and biological environment and different survey platforms. Large baleen whales were concentrated in 3 focal areas: (1) the northern edge of Lille Hellefiske bank between 65 and 67° N, (2) north of Paamiut at 63° N, and (3) in South Greenland between 60 and 61° N. There was a bimodal pattern of mean krill density between depths, with one peak between 50 and 75 m (mean 0.75 g m -2 , SD 2.74) and another between 225 and 275 m (mean 1.2 to 1.3 g m -2 , SD 23 to19). Water column krill biomass was 3 times higher in South Greenland than at any other site along the coast. Total depth-integrated krill biomass was 1.3 × 10 9 (CV 0.11). Models indicated the most important parameter in predicting large baleen whale presence was integrated krill abundance, although this relationship was only significant for sightings obtained on the ship survey. This suggests that a high degree of spatio-temporal synchrony in observations is necessary for quantifying predator-prey relationships. Krill biomass was most pre- dictive of whale presence at depths >150 m, suggesting a threshold depth below which it is energet- ically optimal for baleen whales to forage on krill in West Greenland.

The three-dimensional prey field of the northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica, and the escape responses of their copepod prey

In the north Atlantic, Meganyctiphanes norvegica feeds predominantly on copepods, including Calanus spp. To quantify its perceptual field for prey, and the sensory systems underlying prey detection, the responses of tethered krill to free-swimming Calanus spp. were observed in 3D using silhouette video imaging. An attack–which occurred despite the krill’s being tethered—was characterized by a pronounced movement of the krill’s antennae towards the target, followed by a propulsion and opening of the feeding basket. Frequency distributions of prey detection distances were significantly different in the light vs. the dark, with median values of 26.5 mm and 19.5 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences in the angles at which prey were detected by krill (relative to the predator’s longitudinal body axis) in the light vs. the dark. Prey detections were symmetrically distributed on either side of the predator, in both light and dark. However, significant asymmetry was found in the dorsal–ventral direction with 80% of the prey detections located below the midline of the krill’s body axis and, given the placement and orientation of the compound eyes, presumably outside its visual field of view. This indicates that, at least under these conditions, vision was not the main sensory modality involved in the detection of active prey by M. norvegica. However, under some circumstances, vision may provide supplemental information. Avoidance responses of copepod prey were nearly twice the velocity of their nominal background swimming speed (153 ± 48 and 85 ± 75 mm s−1, respectively), on average taking them 43 ± 16 mm away from the predator. This is far beyond the krill’s perceptual range, suggesting that the escape reaction provides an effective deterrent to predation (although perhaps less so for free-swimming krill). This information can be used to parameterize models that assess the role of krill as predators in marine ecosystems.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00227-010-1405-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

New records of blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus) with evidence of possible feeding behaviour from the continental shelf slopes to the west of Ireland

On 15 and 17 September 2008 two sightings of blue whales were recorded (with photographic confirmation of species identity) on the continental shelf slopes to the west of Ireland. Blue whale sightings within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm limit) are extremely rare with only three reported sightings since the closure of the Irish/Norwegian whaling stations in 1922, none of which were confirmed by photo-identification. These new records are considered to be of two separate animals due to the distances between sightings and fluking behaviour being exhibited by only one of the animals. Evidence suggesting that these animals were feeding was collected during both sightings, with northern krill thought to be the prey species. Photographs taken on 15 September allowed for photo-identification comparison with the North Atlantic blue whale catalogue, however no match was found. Together these sightings may indicate a previously unrecorded feeding area for blue whales in the north-east Atlantic.

Involvement of contractile elements in control of bioluminescence in Northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars)

Inside the light organs of the bioluminescent (light-producing) crustacean Meganyctiphanes norvegica (krill), numerous capillaries drain haemolymph into the light-producing structure (lantern). We have investigated the arrangement and function of filamentous material found around the opening of the capillaries. These have been suggested to work as sphincters, controlling the haemolymph (i.e. oxygen) supply to the lantern and thereby the production of light. Electron microscopy shows that the filamentous material consists of thick and thin muscle filaments arranged in perpendicular blocks around the opening of each capillary. The actin probe rhodamine phalloidin has revealed that one component is filamentous actin. Clusters of vesicle-dense nerve profiles surround the cells containing filamentous material and antibodies against 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) reveal that 5-HT containing nerves lead to the filamentous area. When exposed to the muscle-relaxing substances papaverine and verapamil, krill respond with luminescence, suggesting that the sphincter structures are functionally involved in the control of light production. Treatment with the muscle-contracting drugs Bay K8544 and thapsigargin gives no light response. Thus, 5-HT stimulates light production in krill; however, a combination of 5-HT and the muscle-relaxing drugs or Bay K8544 potentiates the effect of 5-HT. Thapsigargin quenches the response to 5-HT. Our results corroborate speculations of earlier authors who have suggested that the sphincter structures are of a muscular nature and important in controlling light production in krill. However, other parameters in addition to the oxygen supply to the lantern are involved in controlling bioluminescence in the light organs of M. norvegica.

Scale-dependent habitat use by a large free-ranging predator, the Mediterranean fin whale

Since the heterogeneity of oceanographic conditions drives abundance, distribution, and availability of prey, it is essential to understand how foraging predators interact with their dynamic environment at various spatial and temporal scales. We examined the spatio-temporal relationships between oceanographic features and abundance of fin whales ( Balaenoptera physalus), the largest free-ranging predator in the Western Mediterranean Sea (WM), through two independent approaches. First, spatial modeling was used to estimate whale density, using waiting distance (the distance between detections) for fin whales along ferry routes across the WM, in relation to remotely sensed oceanographic parameters. At a large scale (basin and year), fin whales exhibited fidelity to the northern WM with a summer-aggregated and winter-dispersed pattern. At mesoscale (20–100 km), whales were found in colder, saltier (from an on-board system) and dynamic areas defined by steep altimetric and temperature gradients. Second, using an independent fin whale satellite tracking dataset, we showed that tracked whales were effectively preferentially located in favorable habitats, i.e. in areas of high predicted densities as identified by our previous model using oceanographic data contemporaneous to the tracking period. We suggest that the large-scale fidelity corresponds to temporally and spatially predictable habitat of whale favorite prey, the northern krill ( Meganyctiphanes norvegica), while mesoscale relationships are likely to identify areas of high prey concentration and availability.

Winter distribution of euphausiids (Euphausiacea) in the Barents Sea (2000–2005)

Abstract The purpose of the study is to analyze the state of the Barents Sea euphausiids populations in the warm period (2000–2005) based on the study of their structure dynamics and distribution under the influence of abiotic and biotic factors. For estimation of their aggregations in the bottom layer, the traditional method was used with the help of the modified egg net (0.2 m 2 opening area, 564 μm mesh size). The net is used for collecting euphausiids in the autumn–winter period when their activity is reduced, which results in high-catch efficiency. The findings confirmed the major formation patterns of the euphausiids species composition associated with climate change in the Arctic basin. As before, in the warm years, one can see a clear-cut differentiation of space distribution of the dominant euphausiids Thysanoessa genus with localization of the more thermophilic Thysanoessa inermis in the north-west Barents Sea and Thysanoessa raschii in the east. The major euphausiids aggregations are formed of these species. In 2004, the first data of euphausiids distribution in the northern Barents Sea (77–79°N) were obtained, and demonstrated extremely high concentrations of T. inermis in this area, with the biomass as high as 1.7–2.4 g m −2 in terms of dry weight. These data have improved our knowledge of the distribution and euphausiids abundance during periods of elevated sea-water temperatures in the Barents Sea. The oceanic Atlantic species were found to increase in abundance due to elevated advection to the Barents Sea during the study period. Thus, after nearly a 30-year-long absence of the moderate subtropical Nematoscelis megalops in the Barents Sea, they were found again in 2003–2005. However in comparison with 1960, the north-east border of its distribution considerably shifted to 73°50′N 50°22′E. The portion of Meganyctiphanes norvegica also varied considerably—from 10% to 20% of the total euphausiids population in the warm 1950s–1960s almost to complete disappearing in 1970–1990s. The peak of this species’ occurrence (18–26%) took place in the beginning of warm period (1999–2000) after a succession of cold years. The subsequent reduction of the relative abundance of M. norvegica to 7% might have been mostly caused by fish predation during a period of low population densities of capelin. This high predation pressure may therefore have been mediated both by other pelagic fishes (i.e. herring, blue whiting, polar cod) but also by demersal fishes such as cod and haddock. Similar sharp fluctuations in the capelin stock (the major consumer of euphausiids) created marked perturbations in the food web in the Barents Sea in the middle 1980s and the early 1990s.

Changes in the diet and feeding of the hake Merluccius merluccius at the shelf-break of the Balearic Islands: Influence of the mesopelagic-boundary community

Short spatio–temporal variations in the feeding intensity and the diet of the European hake, Merluccius merluccius, together with the abundance of their potential prey were studied between August 2003 and June 2004 at two locations, northwest (Sóller) and south (Cabrera), off the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean) at depths between 150 and 750 m. The two areas present different oceanographic conditions. Hake was mainly distributed along the shelf-slope break and the upper slope (between 166 and 350 m) where recruits (TL<18 cm) were dominant. The hake's diet varied as a function of size. Recruits fed mainly on micronektonic prey, and the diet was influenced primarily by seasonality, with two dietary patterns (identified by MDS analyses) corresponding to August–September 2003 (summer) and to November 2003/February–April 2004 (autumn–winter). The summer pattern was consistent with a thermally stratified water column, while November and April were consistent with homogenized temperature and salinity throughout all the water column. The main prey of recruits were the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica and the midwater fish Maurolicus muelleri in autumn–winter and myctophids (mainly Ceratoscopelus maderensis) in summer. In contrast to recruits, the geographic factor (NW vs. S) was the main factor influencing the diets of post-recruits (TL between 18 and 21.9 cm) and adults (TL⩾22 cm). Hake recruits (and to a lesser extent post-recruits) and their preferred prey occupied different depth ranges during daylight periods. Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Ceratoscopelus maderensis were, for instance, distributed as much as 500 m deeper than hake that had eaten them. All these trends were especially obvious at NW, an area with a more abrupt slope and with a greater influence by northern winter intermediate water (WIW) inflow in early spring than the S area. These factors probably enhanced micronekton aggregation in April, when feeding intensity (stomach fullness) increased among recruits and post-recruits only at NW. All these factors may have a crucial role in the diet, distribution and probably recruitment success of small hake. Biological factors were also important in trophic shifts in the diet and feeding of hake. Multi-linear regression models pointed to a trend of higher fullness with higher hepato-somatic index (HSI). Therefore greater food consumption by hake may enhance its metabolic condition. Within the framework of shelf-break and slope ecology, we show how the ‘boundary’ mesopelagic community inhabiting the middle slope sustains the trophic requirements of hake, a species distributed at shallower depths along the shelf-slope break. Mesopelagic euphausiids and myctophids are often found in the diets of shelf-break fish. Because the boundary mesopelagic community is distributed worldwide, the high levels of fish biomass often found at shelf-slope breaks could be sustained trophically by deeper, offshore mesopelagic communities, an inverse energy transfer from deep to shallow-water marine ecosystems.

Potential impacts of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions on Mediterranean marine ecosystems and cetaceans

The combustion of fossil fuels and the resultant impacts on climate may now represent one of the largest environmental threats. In the Mediterranean Sea, changes in bio-chemical and physical seawater properties resulting from global warming are likely to alter marine biodiversity and productivity, trigger trophic web mismatches and encourage diseases, toxic algal bloom and propagation of thermophilic species. This review highlights the current and potential threats of climate change to the Mediterranean marine ecosystems, including cetaceans, and stresses the emergent necessity for more integrated regulations and policies for the protection of marine biodiversity. For instance, in the Mediterranean Sea, the distribution and abundance of the small euphausid speciesMeganyctiphanes norvegicais correlated with specific hydrobiological parameters including seawater temperature, salinity and current patterns. Situated at the northern limit of its ecological tolerance, this species, which constitutes the only known food supply of the fin whales(Balaenoptera physalus)in this region, might be affected by climate change-induced alteration of ocean circulation.

Trophic interactions of macro-zooplankton (krill and amphipods) in the Marginal Ice Zone of the Barents Sea

The diets of krill and amphipods were examined using light microscopy on field-collected specimens from 2004 to 2005 from the Marginal Ice Zone of the northwestern Barents Sea, north and east of Spitsbergen. Stomach content analyses indicate dominant krill species to have a filter-feeding mode, whereas amphipods seem to be mainly raptorial feeders. The dominant krill, Thysanoessa inermis ,i s primarily regarded as an herbivore feeding mostly on diatoms. Alternatively, Thysanoessa longicaudata fed occasionally on calanoid copepods in addition to being a suspension feeder on phytoplankton. The largest of the krill species, Meganyctiphanes norvegica, showed a mixed diet with regular feeding on calanoid copepods and phytoplankton. The degree of carnivory varied between stations and was determined by examining the size and shape of the mandible of copepods. M. norvegica, with a total length of between 26 and 41 mm, had up to two copepods in their stomachs, with a mandible width of the copepods varying from 32 to 154 mm, corresponding, respectively, to a computed prosome length of 0.3 and 2.6 mm. Themisto libellula fed primarily on C3 and C4 copepodite stages of Calanus glacialis and Calanus hyperboreus, and up to three copepods were found in the stomach contents of T. libellula. Themisto abyssorum fed on herbivorous and omnivorous prey such as copepods and appendicularians. The presence of Metridia spp. and appendicularians, e.g., Oikopleura vanhoeffeni in the diet of T. abyssorum may indicate feeding in the deeper layers (4200 m).

Fatty acid trophic markers and trophic links among seston, crustacean zooplankton and the siphonophore &lt;em&gt;Nanomia cara&lt;/em&gt; in Georges Basin and Oceanographer Canyon (NW Atlantic)

Fatty acid concentrations expressed as percentages of total fatty acid pools in seston, stage V copepodites of Calanus finmarchicus , adults of the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica , and the physonect siphonophore Nanomia cara were used to elucidate trophic links in Georges Basin and Oceanographer Canyon in September 2003. Seston at both locations was refractory and comprised mainly of saturated fatty acids. Phytoplankton did not contribute significantly to the fatty acid composition of seston or higher trophic levels. Only four fatty acids, i.e. 14:0, 16:0, 16:1 (n–7) and 18:1 (n–7), were transferred from seston to C. finmarchicus or M. norvegica , which suggested weak trophic interactions. Fatty acids transferred from the two species of crustaceans to N. cara included the same four fatty acids, along with three polyunsaturated fatty acids found in relatively high concentrations in both crustaceans, i.e. 20:3 (n–6), 20:5 (n–3) and 22:6 (n–3). In addition, 18:1 (n–9), which occurred in relatively high concentrations only in M. norvegica , and 18:0 and 18:2 (n–6), which were found in low concentrations in both crustaceans, also appeared to be transferred to N. cara . Overall, fatty acid trophic markers proved useful for identifying trophic links to N. cara .

Could krill schools significantly bias 234Th‐based carbon flux models?

To test the recent hypothesis that krill schools and their molting can hinder the accuracy of 234Th‐based particle flux models under specific conditions, radiotracer experiments were conducted with northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica, to examine how 234Th uptake and release kinetics may affect residual 234Th concentrations in seawater. Krill rapidly took up 234Th from seawater, reaching a steady‐state concentration factor of ~180 in less than 1 week, and strongly retained the accumulated radionuclide until molting occurred. The nine molting events observed during the 18‐d experimental period indicated that ~50% of krill whole‐body 234Th activity was associated with the cast exoskeleton, and that a corresponding amount was rapidly adsorbed postecdysis on the newly formed cuticle. In regions characterized by the occurrence of high planktonic crustacean biomass, failure to link the presence of organisms with their effects on 234Th dynamics in the water column may induce significant biases (in some circumstances, up to one order of magnitude) in 234Th‐derived particulate organic carbon flux estimations or sediment trap efficiency calculations based on this method. However, because of the patchy distribution of dense aggregations of krill, the overall likelihood of such dramatic modeling artifacts is estimated to be relatively low (≤5% per sampling time).

Trophic interactions of the pelagic ecosystem over the Reykjanes Ridge as evaluated by fatty acid and stable isotope analyses

Abstract Trophic relationships of the important oceanic crustacean species Calanus finmarchicus, Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Sergestes arcticus, as well as the mesopelagic fishes Maurolicus muelleri, Benthosema glaciale and Sebastes mentella, were investigated over the Reykjanes Ridge in June 2003 and in June 2004. Measurements were performed of length, wet weight, dry weight, total lipid, lipid class, fatty acid and fatty alcohol profiles and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N). High amounts of the Calanus lipid markers, 20:1(n-9) and 22:1(n-11) in these species confirm the importance of Calanus spp. in this ecosystem. Comparisons of fatty acid/alcohol profiles by multivariate analysis revealed two main trophic pathways over the Reykjanes Ridge. In one pathway, Calanus spp. was an important part of the diet for the small mesopelagic fish species M. muelleri and B. glaciale and the shrimp S. arcticus, whereas in the other pathway, the euphausiid M. norvegica was the dominant food for the redfish S. mentella, and Calanus spp. were of less importance. M. muelleri and the smaller B. glaciale feed on C. finmarchicus, whereas the larger B. glaciale and S. arcticus select the larger, deeper-living C. hyperboreus. All investigated species are true pelagic species except for the shrimp S. arcticus, which seems to have a benthic feeding habit as well. The δ15N levels show that of the species investigated, C. finmarchicus occupies the lowest trophic level (2.0) and the redfish, S. mentella, the highest (4.2). All the species were lipid rich, typical for subarctic pelagic ecosystem. Calanus finmarchicus, S. arcticus and B. glaciale store wax esters as their lipid stores, while M. norvegica, M. muelleri and S. mentella store triacylglycerols.

Serotonin and nitric oxide interaction in the control of bioluminescence in northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars)

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the control of bioluminescence (light production) in the crustacean Meganyctiphanes norvegica (krill) was investigated using pharmacological and immunohistochemical methods. All nitrergic drugs tested failed to induce bioluminescence per se but modulated light production stimulated by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). NO donors [sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP)] injected in live specimens significantly reduced light production stimulated by 5-HT, whereas inhibition of the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) with l-NAME (N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) resulted in an enhancement of the 5-HT response. The effects of NO do not seem to be mediated via production of cGMP as injections of a cGMP analogue (8-Bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate) gave inconclusive effects on the 5-HT-stimulated light response. Inhibition of cGMP production with ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one) did not affect the light response. Moreover, a few individuals showed a considerably higher response to 5-HT in April and June compared with specimens collected in the autumn and winter. Furthermore, both NOS-like and 5-HT-like materials were detected by immunohistochemistry inside the light organs. NOS-like immunoreactivity was primarily observed in structures associated with vessels inside the light organs, whereas 5-HT-like material was abundant in nerve fibres throughout the whole light organ. The results suggest that NO has a modulatory role at several levels in the control of light production in M. norvegica and that NO and 5-HT interact in this regulation.