Dr. Michael Stukel, USA
Info
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and Antarctic salps (Salpa thompsoni) are among the most important filter feeders in the Southern Ocean, with Salpa thompsoni being the most numerous salp species in the Southern Ocean.
Because of their ability to reproduce rapidly asexually (budding), salps are capable of forming dense swarms that have been reported to dominate macro- and zooplankton in various regions of Antarctica.
Although Salpa thompsoni are eaten by various fish and seabirds, only Antarctic krill is considered a major food source for many apex predators, including fish, penguins, seals, and baleen whales, because of its high protein and lipid content.
The energy yield from eating salps is significantly lower than the energy yield from krill.
A study presented occurrence data of salps from the Southern Ocean covering a 26-year time span.
These data can be used to track variations in Antarctic salpid stocks and their distribution as a function of bottom depth, temperature, and ice conditions.
The goal is to reveal salpid hotspots and predict the future range of Salpa thompsoni in the face of impending climate warming over the next 50 years.
The results showed that the highest salpid densities are found in shallow shelf waters with ice cover and low temperatures between 1 and -1°C.
In contrast to Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, Antarctic salps (Salpa thompsoni) respond positively to warmer water temperatures and are capable of mass reproduction under favorable conditions, and can compete strongly with krill for primary production.
Significant fluctuations in the abundance of Salpa thompsoni have been observed over the past three decades in response to environmental fluctuations in the Southern Ocean ecosystem (e.g., changes in sea surface temperature and retreat of ice cover around cold Antarctic waters).
Inferences about the future distribution of salps suggest that the range of Salpa thompsoni will shift southward, increasing its habitat by nearly 500,000 km², which could have significant impacts on the overall Antarctic food web
Study suggest that the range and abundance of Salpa thompsoni in West Antarctica is likely to increase with climatic changes, such as temperature increase and decrease in sea ice cover.
It is suggested that a large-scale shift from a krill-dominated system to a salbendominated system may also most likely have dramatic effects on the feeding conditions of higher trophic levels and lead to declines in populations of top predators.
A shift in salpid distribution to more southerly and northerly regions (see New Zealand) and displacement of krill would have dramatic effects on Antarctic ecosystem structure.
We sincerely thank Dr. Michael Stukel, Florida State University, USA, for the first photos of the salpid (Salpa thompsoni).
Because of their ability to reproduce rapidly asexually (budding), salps are capable of forming dense swarms that have been reported to dominate macro- and zooplankton in various regions of Antarctica.
Although Salpa thompsoni are eaten by various fish and seabirds, only Antarctic krill is considered a major food source for many apex predators, including fish, penguins, seals, and baleen whales, because of its high protein and lipid content.
The energy yield from eating salps is significantly lower than the energy yield from krill.
A study presented occurrence data of salps from the Southern Ocean covering a 26-year time span.
These data can be used to track variations in Antarctic salpid stocks and their distribution as a function of bottom depth, temperature, and ice conditions.
The goal is to reveal salpid hotspots and predict the future range of Salpa thompsoni in the face of impending climate warming over the next 50 years.
The results showed that the highest salpid densities are found in shallow shelf waters with ice cover and low temperatures between 1 and -1°C.
In contrast to Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, Antarctic salps (Salpa thompsoni) respond positively to warmer water temperatures and are capable of mass reproduction under favorable conditions, and can compete strongly with krill for primary production.
Significant fluctuations in the abundance of Salpa thompsoni have been observed over the past three decades in response to environmental fluctuations in the Southern Ocean ecosystem (e.g., changes in sea surface temperature and retreat of ice cover around cold Antarctic waters).
Inferences about the future distribution of salps suggest that the range of Salpa thompsoni will shift southward, increasing its habitat by nearly 500,000 km², which could have significant impacts on the overall Antarctic food web
Study suggest that the range and abundance of Salpa thompsoni in West Antarctica is likely to increase with climatic changes, such as temperature increase and decrease in sea ice cover.
It is suggested that a large-scale shift from a krill-dominated system to a salbendominated system may also most likely have dramatic effects on the feeding conditions of higher trophic levels and lead to declines in populations of top predators.
A shift in salpid distribution to more southerly and northerly regions (see New Zealand) and displacement of krill would have dramatic effects on Antarctic ecosystem structure.
We sincerely thank Dr. Michael Stukel, Florida State University, USA, for the first photos of the salpid (Salpa thompsoni).
