The potential role of Antarctic krill faecal pellets in efficient carbon export at the marginal ice zone of the South Orkney Islands in spring.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) play a central role in the food web of the Southern Ocean, forming a link between primary production and large predators. Krill produce large, faecal pellets (FP) which can form a large component of mesopelagic particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes. However, the patchy distribution of krill swarms, highly variable pellet composition, and variable sinking and attenuation rates means that these episodic, but potentially large, carbon fluxes are difficult to sample or model. We measured particle flux and type using Marine Snow Catchers (MSC) in the marginal ice zone near the South Orkneys, Antarctica. Krill FP were the dominant component of the POC flux in the upper 200 m (typically 60-85%). FP sinking velocities measured onboard were highly variable (15-507 m d-1) but overall high, with mean equivalent velocities of 172, 267, and 161 m d-1 at our three stations. The high numbers of krill FP sinking through the mesopelagic suggest that krill FP can be transferred efficiently and/or that rates of krill FP production are high. We compared our direct MSC-derived estimates of krill FP POC flux (33-154 mg C m-2 d-1) and attenuation to estimates of krill FP production based on previous measurements of krill density and literature FP egestion rates, and estimated net krill FP attenuation rates in the upper mesopelagic. Calculated attenuation rates are sensitive to krill densities in the overlying water column but suggest that krill FP could be transferred efficiently through the upper mesopelagic, and, in agreement with our MSC attenuation estimates, could make large contributions to bathypelagic POC fluxes. Our study contrasts with some others which suggest rapid FP attenuation, highlighting the need for further work to constrain attenuation rates and assess how important the contribution of Antarctic krill FP could be to the Southern Ocean biological carbon pump.

Thermal stratification influences maturation and timing of spawning in a local Clupea harengus population.

Maturation and timing of spawning in relation to temperature were studied in a local Atlantic herring Clupea harengus population inhabiting a small semi-enclosed ecosystem (7 km(2)) separated from the larger outer fjord system by narrow sills on the west coast of Norway. Ambient temperatures varied annually up to 4° C during both the pre-spawning and spawning periods from February to April, but without affecting the spawning time. Instead, the timing of spawning was found to be related to thermal stratification in response to spring warming, which occurred about the same time every year regardless of initial temperatures.

Involvement of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone in the control of gill ion transport in the crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus.

Total extracts of sinus glands (SG) of the euryhaline grapsid crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus contain peptidic factor(s) that stimulate osmoregulatory processes in isolated and perfused posterior gills from crabs acclimated to dilute seawater. This study investigated the nature of the active factor(s). Separation of P. marmoratus SG peptides by reverse-phase HPLC, followed by a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using an anti-Carcinus maenas crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) antiserum, identified a major immunoreactive chromatographic peak. A glucose quantification bioassay demonstrated a strong and specific hyperglycemic activity following injection of the immunoreactive peak, therefore defined as the CHH of P. marmoratus. Isolated posterior gills were then perfused with HPLC fractions using a dose of 4 SG equivalents/assay. The CHH fraction consistently and significantly increased the transepithelial potential difference and Na(+) influx by about 50%. The effect was rapid and reversible. Another substance of unknown nature (eluted earlier than CHH in the HPLC gradient) caused a small increase in Na(+) influx (14%) but had no effect on the transepithelial potential difference. No other peptidic product from the SG had significant effect on the measured osmoregulatory parameters. These results indicate that CHH, in addition to its hyperglycemic activity, is also implicated in the control of branchial ionic transport. This neuropeptide may thus constitute a major factor involved in the control of osmoregulation in decapod crustaceans.