Knowra Krill Krill Krill are small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans that swim in large numbers and feed many ocean animals. They are especially abundant in the Southern Ocean, where Antarctic krill form dense swarms.
Antarctic krill : A krill species, Euphausia superba, abundant in the Southern Ocean and a major food source for marine wildlife. This species forms some of the largest and most ecologically significant krill swarms.
Krill swarm : A dense aggregation of krill moving and feeding together. Swarming shapes krill behavior and makes them accessible to predators.
Krill fishery : The commercial harvest of krill, primarily in the Southern Ocean. Harvesting targets krill used in aquaculture feed, dietary supplements, and other products.
Baleen whale : A whale belonging to the group Mysticeti, which feeds by filtering prey from water. Several baleen whales consume enormous quantities of krill.
Euphausiacea : An order of marine crustaceans that includes all krill species. Krill belong to this taxonomic order, distinct from true shrimp.
Diel vertical migration : Daily movement of aquatic organisms between deeper water and the surface. Many krill rise toward surface waters at night and descend during daylight.
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources : An international organization that manages marine living resources in the Southern Ocean. Its rules set limits and spatial protections for Antarctic krill fishing.
Adélie penguin : A penguin species native to the Antarctic coast and surrounding islands. Its breeding success can reflect local krill availability.
Crustacean : An arthropod with a hard exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed limbs. Krill are crustaceans, sharing this body plan with crabs and copepods.
Sea ice : Frozen seawater that forms, drifts, and melts at the ocean surface. Antarctic sea ice provides habitat and food, especially for juvenile krill.
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