AS AQA Geography: Krill in the Southern Ocean

Reasons for their high biological productivity in the Southern Ocean

• Waters are turbulent, keeping nutrients and minerals in suspension
• Water is cold, enabling gas storage
• 24 hour daylight in summer allows photosynthesis to cultivate large amounts of algae, used by the krill.

The Importance of krill to the southern ocean

• They are the direct food supply of millions of fish, penguins and albatrosses, seals and baleen whales.
• They are the indirect food supply of aquatic birds and mammals

Species diversity in the Southern Ocean

• Although it is a highly productive area, species diversity is very low.
• Only 43 regular bird species

Human uses of Krill

Aquaculture: 

• Highest demand area for krill
• Uses 75% of fish oil (potentially 79% in next decade)
• Uses 40% of…