Abstract
The effect of temperature on molting, growth, and maturation rates was studied on laboratory-maintained Euphausia superba. The length of intermolt periods (IMP's) was inversely proportional to temperature (20.10 d, SD=1.60, at 0.12°C; 16.87 d, SD=1.68, at 0.97°C; and 12.48 d, SD=0.90, at 4.48°C), and directly proportional to krill size at 0.12°C and 0.97°C. For individually maintained krill the maximum growth rate at 4.48°C (0.068 mm d-1) was nearly twice that at 0.68°C (0.037 mm d-1). There was no observable temperature effect on maturation rates. The maturation changes of juveniles at all temperatures indicated that more than two years are probably required to reach maturity. Mature males and females regressed to immature forms, suggesting that E. superba may reproduce in successive years. These results and previously reported field and laboratory data for E. superba and other euphausiid species suggest a 4+ year life span for this species.
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Communicated by S. K. Pierce, College Park
This work was supported by NSF grant DPP 76-23437
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Poleck, T.P., Denys, C.J. Effect of temperature on the molting, growth and maturation of the antarctic krill Euphausia superba (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) under laboratory conditions. Mar. Biol. 70, 255–265 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396844
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396844