Response of ice krill (Euphausia crystallorophias) density to environmental changes in the Amundsen Sea Coastal Polynya, Antarctica

Abstract

The density of ice krill (Euphausia crystallorophias), a species of key ecological value, and related environmental factors were observed along two transects in the Amundsen Sea Coastal Polynya (ASCP) in Antarctica. The distribution of ice krill was processed using two-frequency acoustic backscatter data identification, and the target strength of ice krill was calculated via stochastic distorted-wave born approximation based on the ice krill sample. The ice krill density ranged from 0.96 to 11.01 g m⁻² for each transect (mean value was 5.77 g m⁻² for the entire survey). These results were of a lower order of magnitude than those of a previous study in the same waters, although the ice krill was still the dominant krill specie in this polynya. We contend that the extent of the phytoplankton bloom might be the factor behind this difference, while other hydrographic parameters such as surface temperature and salinity would have some effect on the spatial distribution of ice krill abundance. Meanwhile, the density and height of ice krill abundance suggested that the diurnal effect on the ice krill was almost negligible. According to the fitted results of regression model, the abundance of ice krill in ASCP in 2022 summer was estimated approximately 175,000 tons.