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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2019, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (12): 4344-4352.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.201912.010

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Behavioral and physiological ecology of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba): A review

LIU Zi-jun1,2, XU Liu-xiong1,3,4, ZHU Guo-ping1,2,3,4*   

  1. 1College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China;
    2Center for Polar Research, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China;
    3Polar Marine Ecosystem Group, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China;
    4 National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai 201306, China
  • Received:2019-03-28 Online:2019-12-15 Published:2019-12-15
  • Contact: * E-mail: gpzhu@shou.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    The work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC1406801) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41776185)

Abstract: Behavioral and physiological ecology are two important research aspects of ecological field. Related studies help us better understand the marine animal’s habit and adaptability to environment. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba, thereafter krill) is a key-stone species in the Southern Ocean. Understanding its behavioral and physiological ecology can understand the ability of marine organisms such as krill to cope with extreme environment. We summarized the typical ecological characteristics of krill from both aspects of behavioral ecology and physiological ecology. Behavioral ecology included its swarming (size and behavior) and swimming (angle, beat of pleopod), while physiological ecology included respiration, excretion, metabolism, molting and growth. Generally, the studies on behavioral and physiological ecology of krill were very limited, and many studies were based on land-based krill aquarium. In view of the large difference between land-based aquarium and natural environment of krill, it’s extremely urgent to develop the in-situ experimental ecology of krill in the sea.