A circadian clock drives behavioral activity in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and provides a potential mechanism for seasonal timing

eLife, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: April 29, 2025

Antarctic krill is a species with fundamental importance for the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Their large biomass and synchronized movements, like diel vertical migration (DVM), significantly impact ecosystem structure biological carbon pump. Despite decades of research, mechanistic basis DVM remains unclear. Circadian clocks help organisms anticipate daily environmental changes, optimizing adaptation. In this study, we used recently developed activity monitor to record swimming individual, wild-caught under various light conditions across different seasons. Our data demonstrate how circadian clock, in combination light, drives distinct bimodal pattern activity, which could facilitate ecologically important behavioral patterns, such as DVM. Rapid damping flexible synchronization indicate that clock adapted life at high latitudes seasonal recordings suggest clock-based mechanism timing processes. findings advance our understanding high-latitude adaptation key species.

Language: Английский

A new Activity Monitor for Aquatic Zooplankter (AMAZE) allows the recording of swimming activity in wild-caught Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: July 23, 2024

Abstract Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba , hereafter krill) is a pelagic living crustacean and key species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Krill builds up huge biomass its synchronized behavioral patterns, such as diel vertical migration (DVM), substantially impact ecosystem structure carbon sequestration. However, mechanistic basis of DVM unknown previous studies behavior laboratory were challenged by complex large variability. Using new experimental set-up, we recorded swimming activity individual wild-caught under light–dark cycles. individuals exhibited differential phototactic responses to light regime provided. using metric, showed for first time consistent nocturnal increase controlled environment. set-up was strongly with cycle, similar pattern field when sampled experiment, demonstrated hydroacoustic recordings. The presents promising tool investigating mechanisms underlying which will our understanding ecological interactions, spatial distribution populations, their effects on biogeochemical cycles future.

Language: Английский