2021-2022 Science Planning Summaries
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2021-2022 USAP Field Season
Project Detail

Project Title

The omnivore’s dilemma: The effect of autumn diet on winter physiology and condition of juvenile Antarctic krill


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B-459-L/N/P Research Location(s): Palmer Station

Summary

Event Number:
B-459-L/N/P

Program Director:
Dr. Maria Vernet

ASC POC/Implementer:
Rachel Shackelford / Jamee Johnson


Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Kim Bernard
kim.bernard@oregonstate.edu
Oregon State University
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
Corvallis, Oregon


Location

Supporting Stations: ARSV Laurence M. Gould, RV/IB Nathaniel B. Palmer, Palmer Station
Research Locations: Palmer Station


Description

Antarctic krill are essential in the Southern Ocean for supporting marine mammals, seabirds, and fishes. Antarctic krill are also a target species for industrial fisheries. The success of Antarctic krill populations is largely determined by the ability of their young to survive the long, dark winter when food is scarce. To survive the winter, young krill must have a high-quality diet in autumn. However, warming in certain parts of Antarctica is changing the dynamics and quality of the polar food web, resulting in a shift in the available food type. This project will study how warming is affecting young krill survival. The results derived from this work will contribute to the development of improved bioenergetic, population, and ecosystem models and will advance the current scientific understanding of this critical Antarctic species.


Field Season Overview

This project will deploy three people, Kim Bernard and two students, to Palmer Station. The first two field seasons will feature long-term feeding experiments and all three field seasons will include in situ sampling of local krill populations. Krill caught on the southbound voyage in April 2022 will be subjected to four different feeding treatments in the four large aquarium tanks in the Aquarium Room. If no krill are caught on the southbound voyage, the researchers will collect krill near Palmer Station either using the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat or from the ARSV Laurence M. Gould or RV/IB Nathaniel B. Palmer.


Deploying Team Members

  • Kim Bernard (PI)
  • Steinke Kirsten
  • Andrea Nodal