Krill stock composition and distributional patterns in the vicinity of Elephant Island during austral summer 1988-1992 are described. Changes in both size and maturity composition over the five year period indicates strong recruitment from the 1987/88 and 1990/91 year classes and poor recruitment from the 1989/90 and 1990/91 year classes. Year class success may be related to the abundance of large mature stages and/or the development state of mature females during early summer. The overall distributional patterns during each year indicate that the older age classes were associated with oceanic/Drake Passage waters while younger classes were associated with water masses to the south. Between-year differences in distribution patterns reflected changes in year class success and maturity stage composition.
Variability of krill stock composition and distribution in the vicinity of Elephant Island during AMLR investigations 1988-1992
Document Number:
WG-KRILL-92/12
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Abstract