Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolbox
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) is a key species of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, immensely abundant and targeted by the krill fishery. For their sustainable management, krill distribution and biomass estimates are required, typically achieved through acoustic-trawl surveys. We explore how...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1502498/full |
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| author | Leonie Suter Leonie Suter Alicia Burns Alicia Burns Alicia Burns Sophie Bestley Sophie Bestley Jez Bird Madeleine J. Brasier Madeleine J. Brasier Martin Cox Martin Cox Derek Hamer Olivia J. Johnson So Kawaguchi So Kawaguchi So Kawaguchi Rob King Rob King Andreas Klocker Jessica Melvin Christine K. Weldrick Christine K. Weldrick Simon Wotherspoon Ben Raymond Ben Raymond |
| author_facet | Leonie Suter Leonie Suter Alicia Burns Alicia Burns Alicia Burns Sophie Bestley Sophie Bestley Jez Bird Madeleine J. Brasier Madeleine J. Brasier Martin Cox Martin Cox Derek Hamer Olivia J. Johnson So Kawaguchi So Kawaguchi So Kawaguchi Rob King Rob King Andreas Klocker Jessica Melvin Christine K. Weldrick Christine K. Weldrick Simon Wotherspoon Ben Raymond Ben Raymond |
| author_sort | Leonie Suter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) is a key species of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, immensely abundant and targeted by the krill fishery. For their sustainable management, krill distribution and biomass estimates are required, typically achieved through acoustic-trawl surveys. We explore how krill environmental DNA (eDNA) can contribute to our understanding or Antarctic krill habitat and distribution. We collected eDNA samples by filtering five liters of seawater per sample in the East Antarctic Southern Ocean from the surface (5 m depth) and seafloor (381–4422 m depth, total n = 110). We used quantitative PCR to measure Antarctic krill eDNA abundance and age, and eDNA metabarcoding to detect any krill species. This eDNA data was compared to acoustic, visual and trawl detections of Antarctic krill. Antarctic krill eDNA was common in surface samples and largely overlapped with visual and trawl detections. Highest eDNA concentrations were detected above krill swarms, with concentrations declining with increasing distance from swarms. Near recent eDNA sampling locations, krill swarms were more likely acoustically detected than near old eDNA sampling locations. Antarctic krill detections were less common in seafloor locations, and detections were concentrated in the continental slope area to the south of the survey area, both for visual detections and for recent eDNA detections. Both methods detected Antarctic krill at great depths (recent eDNA: 4300 m; visual: 3080 m). In both eDNA and trawl data, Antarctic krill was the dominant krill species, followed by Thysanoessa macrura G.O. Sars, which was particularly abundant in larval stages throughout the survey area, including at Antarctic krill swarm locations. We recommend the inclusion of eDNA data for Antarctic krill distribution estimates and understanding of habitat use, particularly in difficult-to-access areas, such as under ice or benthic habitats. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-10b1250acd8d4a8b8b1eb237f015eeba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-10b1250acd8d4a8b8b1eb237f015eeba2025-08-20T03:54:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-05-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15024981502498Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolboxLeonie Suter0Leonie Suter1Alicia Burns2Alicia Burns3Alicia Burns4Sophie Bestley5Sophie Bestley6Jez Bird7Madeleine J. Brasier8Madeleine J. Brasier9Martin Cox10Martin Cox11Derek Hamer12Olivia J. Johnson13So Kawaguchi14So Kawaguchi15So Kawaguchi16Rob King17Rob King18Andreas Klocker19Jessica Melvin20Christine K. Weldrick21Christine K. Weldrick22Simon Wotherspoon23Ben Raymond24Ben Raymond25Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, AustraliaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaCluster of Excellence ‘Science of Intelligence’ Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, GermanyFaculty of Life Science, Humboldt University, Berlin, GermanyInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, AustraliaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaForest Policy Branch, Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania, Department of State Growth, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, AustraliaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaNORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, NorwayInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, AustraliaAustralian Antarctic Program Partnership, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaAntarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) is a key species of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, immensely abundant and targeted by the krill fishery. For their sustainable management, krill distribution and biomass estimates are required, typically achieved through acoustic-trawl surveys. We explore how krill environmental DNA (eDNA) can contribute to our understanding or Antarctic krill habitat and distribution. We collected eDNA samples by filtering five liters of seawater per sample in the East Antarctic Southern Ocean from the surface (5 m depth) and seafloor (381–4422 m depth, total n = 110). We used quantitative PCR to measure Antarctic krill eDNA abundance and age, and eDNA metabarcoding to detect any krill species. This eDNA data was compared to acoustic, visual and trawl detections of Antarctic krill. Antarctic krill eDNA was common in surface samples and largely overlapped with visual and trawl detections. Highest eDNA concentrations were detected above krill swarms, with concentrations declining with increasing distance from swarms. Near recent eDNA sampling locations, krill swarms were more likely acoustically detected than near old eDNA sampling locations. Antarctic krill detections were less common in seafloor locations, and detections were concentrated in the continental slope area to the south of the survey area, both for visual detections and for recent eDNA detections. Both methods detected Antarctic krill at great depths (recent eDNA: 4300 m; visual: 3080 m). In both eDNA and trawl data, Antarctic krill was the dominant krill species, followed by Thysanoessa macrura G.O. Sars, which was particularly abundant in larval stages throughout the survey area, including at Antarctic krill swarm locations. We recommend the inclusion of eDNA data for Antarctic krill distribution estimates and understanding of habitat use, particularly in difficult-to-access areas, such as under ice or benthic habitats.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1502498/fullAntarctic krillEuphausia superbaeDNAfishery managementsurvey tools |
| spellingShingle | Leonie Suter Leonie Suter Alicia Burns Alicia Burns Alicia Burns Sophie Bestley Sophie Bestley Jez Bird Madeleine J. Brasier Madeleine J. Brasier Martin Cox Martin Cox Derek Hamer Olivia J. Johnson So Kawaguchi So Kawaguchi So Kawaguchi Rob King Rob King Andreas Klocker Jessica Melvin Christine K. Weldrick Christine K. Weldrick Simon Wotherspoon Ben Raymond Ben Raymond Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolbox Frontiers in Marine Science Antarctic krill Euphausia superba eDNA fishery management survey tools |
| title | Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolbox |
| title_full | Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolbox |
| title_fullStr | Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolbox |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolbox |
| title_short | Monitoring Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) distribution in the Southern Ocean: environmental DNA (eDNA) adds to the toolbox |
| title_sort | monitoring antarctic krill euphausia superba distribution in the southern ocean environmental dna edna adds to the toolbox |
| topic | Antarctic krill Euphausia superba eDNA fishery management survey tools |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1502498/full |
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