01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-04-0066 |
| Title of Abstract | Krill assemblages influenced by currents, eddies and fronts along the 110°E meridian in the eastern Indian Ocean |
| Authors | Alicia L Sutton*, Lynnath E Beckley |
| Organisation | Western Australian Marine Science Institution |
| Address | 64 Fairway Crawley, Western Australia, Australia Pincode: 6009 E-mail: alicia.sutton@wamsi.org.au |
| Country | Australia |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Krill (euphausiids) are widespread across the Indian Ocean and are important contributors to marine food webs, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. In May⿿June 2019, krill were investigated from temperate to tropical waters along the 110°E meridian, originally surveyed during the first International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE). A total of 28 species of tropical, subtropical and temperate krill were identified from day and night vertical hauls using an Indian Ocean Standard Net between 11.5°S and 39.5°S. Species richness and abundances were generally higher in warmer tropical waters, with the exception of the high abundance of Thysanoessa gregaria (4240 inds⿿1000 m3) in the cooler waters south of the Subtropical Front. The occurrence of the Pacific Ocean species, Euphausia pacifica/nana, was likely facilitated by the Indonesian Throughflow, and the occurrence of the typically coastal Pseudeuphausia latifrons was likely a result of the westward propagation of Leeuwin Current eddies. A repeat of the 110°E meridian also allows for a rare opportunity to compare krill assemblages over 50 years apart, examining how species occurrence, life stages and preferred distributions have differed since the first IIOE. In the context of krill zoogeography across the entire basin, this recent 110°E study improves our knowledge of range extensions and species richness in the eastern Indian Ocean. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | yes |
| Endorsed Project Number | IIOE2-EP06 |
| Keywords | Euphausiacae, Oceanography, Water masses, Zooplankton, Zoogeography, Sea surface temperature |
| For Awards | no |