Distribution, concentration and biomass krill (Euphausia superba) in the austral summer of 2007 in the Bransfield Strait

Abstract

We estimated the biomass of krill in the area Bransfield Strait and around Elephant Island during the austral summer of 2007, for the frequency of 38 kHz was estimated biomass of 2’816,083 tons, while for the frequency of 120 kHz was 2’977,414 tons, the largest biomass are located in latitude 61 and 62°S and 54, 56°W degrees longitude. According to the first experiment between Elephant and Clarence Islands, in order to observe the behavior of swarms of krill and its relation to the hourly variations, we determined that predominate during the 03- 04 hours and 15-16 hours, vertically were detected between 50-200 m depth. In the second experiment was conducted in Admiralty Bay in order to study the dynamics of the ecosystem and the movement of krill aggregations, it was found to predominate mainly between 10-11 hours with average depths of 70-80 m.