Krill maintenance and experimentation at the australian antarctic division

Abstract

Live Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, have been maintained for experimental purposes at the Australian Antarctic Division since 1981. This population has been replenished on an annual basis with animals taken from the wild. Techniques used to capture and maintain live krill are discussed here, with particular reference given to the development of systems for their maintenance. Details are also provided for specific experimental systems that have been used to conduct research into the behaviour and physiology of krill both at-sea and in shore-based laboratories.

Keywords:

• Euphausia superba
• Laboratory rearing
• Schooling
• Oxygen
• Ammonia
• Water quality

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the contributions made to the development of rearing techniques for krill at the Australian Antarctic Division by Tom Ikeda, Paul Thomas and Martin Stolp. This work was funded through ASAC grants to Dr S. Nicol and from part of an Australian Research Council Large Grant to Dr. D.A. Ritz. We thank Dr. Denzil Miller for his thorough reading and constructive comments on the manuscript.