Solutions

As discussed in this website, Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) are the heart of the food web of one of that vastest and most productive marine ecosystem- the Southern Ocean.   The conservation of this small creature is necessary because the health of krill populations reflects the health of a suitable marine ecosystem that is able to maintain high levels of biodiversity.   If krill populations decline, so will populations of their predator species and the industries of those species in the Southern Ocean.


The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is an international organization that aims to preserve marine life use broad-scale ecosystem based management techniques (Ruckelshaus et al. 2008).  Its creation reflects the significance and paramount value of Antarctic Krill as the commission was created in 1982 in fear that human over-harvesting of krill would result in a depletion of the ecosystem' food supply.   It puts forth an Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) which looks to detect the conservation status of a selected species and distinguish between the possible effects of harvesting and changes that occur naturally due to variations in biological or physical environment.  Looking at effects of a ever-changing environment, this ecosystem-based management system can fall short.  This is due to the widespread direct and indirect effects that climate changes pose as anthropogenic inputs increase.   Increases in average temperature and temperature variation and physical changes (loss of sea ice) have a profound impact on the habitat capacity of our oceans (Hoegh-Guldberg and Bruno 2010).  The consideration of climate changes predictions and models is crucial in polar oceans where disproportionate warming has left marine species in a dreadful situation.  


Given the very clear current habitat preference for the protective and  algal rich areas on the underside and edges of sea ice, further research needs too discover how Antarctic Krill will respond to decreased ice cover (Nikol and de la Mare 1993).  A better understanding of this animals ecological plasticity needs to be achieved.  How will habitat preferences change under predicted scenarios of decadal climate oscillations, long-term climate, and declining sea ice cover.  Studies have looked to earn a similar understanding of how the impacts of climate change on our oceans will effect the ability of marine species to persist.  A 2009 study investigated how ocean acidification will effect the ability of larval clownfish (Amphiprion percale) to detect suitable adult habitats (Munday et al. 2009).  Under the projected seawater pH and salinity, as a result of CO2 sequestered in oceans, scientist found the clownfish unable to distinguish between the olfactory cues emitted by favorable and unfavorable.  This lead to the disruption of the this fish's preferences of marine vegetation that has been long observed as the most protective and optimal habitat, sea anemone.  Instead, the fish were choosing other, unsuitable habitats that would not maintain this species persistence in highly biodiverse coral reef ecosystems.  This poses a question, under the known impacts of climate change on ocean ecosystems, how will species respond to severe alterations of their habitats such as more acidic oceans and the melting of sea ice?  Will Nemo ever find his home?  Will Antarctic Krill persist given the huge reductions of sea ice?

Krill exhibiting swarming behavior
Source:  Oceans (2009) by Disneynatue, The Walt Disney Company

Key Actions

• Preform a new Antarctic Krill biomass survey.  All current estimates are based on the last survey performed in 2000 (Hoeg-Guldberg and Bruno 2010).  In this way we can better form an idea of how to tackle this issue by knowing the current biomass and comparing it to historical figures.
• Further develop and fund existing monitoring programs in the Antarctic.  In addition to the uncertainties of krill biology, further insight must be gained as to how this species will respond to the predicted warming and loss of sea ice in the future.  Data received over the years from CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Prohgram has been decreasing due to failures in funding (United Nations 2006).  Krill predator interactions and the inter-annual variability of krill should be better understood and how these may be altered with climate change.  
• Avoid buying foods that have been farm raised and fed with krill-based feed.  Such items include farm raised Salmon.  
• As always, make an active effort to reduce the carbon emissions associated with daily life.  This could be anything from reducing time spent in a car, to avoiding certain products with know emissions cost of production.