New Krill paper out in Ecological Modelling

Bahlburg et al. modelled the impact of light- and temperature dependent regulation of metabolism on growth, reproduction and overall "fitness" of Antarctic krill. They used a bioenergetic krill model which simulates growth, reproduction and energy storage as a function of food availability, temperature and light. Their findings show that going into "sleep mode" during winter saves krill from strong starvation and increases reproductive output. Winter respiration rates of Antarctic krill can be as low as 25% of corresponding summer values. This mechanisms helps krill to cope with the strong seasonality in the Antarctic ecosystem and hardship during winter. The authors also demonstrate that this mechanism can be a disadvantage when winter food concentrations are above average (e.g. in the marginal ice zone or as a widely discussed regional consequence of climate change) since it prevents individuals to fully exploit the available energy.

Take a look at the full article by clicking on the link below:

Bahlburg, D., Meyer, B., & Berger, U. (2021). The impact of seasonal regulation of metabolism on the life history of Antarctic krill. Ecological Modelling 442, 109427.