An overview of the history of Antarctic Krill research in the Southern Ocean in particular Euphausia Superba, and suggested directions for future research

The food web in the Southern Ocean is unique among ocean systems in that it is characterised by the dependence largely of a single key species, the Antarctic Krill Euphausia Superba, (Faranda, 1995). Because E. Superba depend on the sea ice during their life cycle (Priddle 1988), it is important to gain an understanding of the effects of global Warming on Sea ice and therefore its impact on the whole Antarctic ecosystem. Climate change is expected to have a profound influence on the Southern Ocean and therefore on the Ross Sea and its biodiversity. According to Kerry and Hempel (1990), in the next few thousand years the world will probable warm due to the greenhouse effect. They suggest that research is needed on the effects on organisms of rapid changes of the Antarctic ecosystem There is a renewed interest in reviewing and advancing the existing knowledge of the Ross Sea biodiversity to evaluate the vulnerability of the Ross Sea and therefore provide better management. “The lack of knowledge of the biodiversity of the Ross Sea is creating significant management difficulties.” (Waterhouse 2001). “Although considerable data exist for the southern ocean, comparatively little information has been collected in the marine environment of the Ross Sea region' (Waterhouse 2001). Existing information on the biodiversity of the Ross Sea is scattered widely both here in New Zealand and internationally. The literature on the Southern Ocean Zooplankton is dominated by studies on E. Superba the Antarctic krill, because of its large biomass, ecological importance and resource potential, (Knox 1983). Because krill has a central role in the Antarctic marine food web, this report will, review the history of krill research (in particular E. Superba), highlight current research being carried out and suggest directions for future research