Micro species with macro effect

Krill are the keystone species of the Antarctic ecosystem.

Iconic animals like penguins and the great whales consume this tiny, shrimp-like creature in huge amounts.

We are just starting to understand the influences that krill have may have far beyond the Antarctic oceans. The way that they fertilise and mix the ocean may influence climate and ecosystem processes.

For all that we do know and appreciate about the role of krill in the Antarctic, there are fundamental facts we still need to discover.

Image: Frederique Olivier

Image: Rob King

We know krill are very abundant, but exactly how many of them are there? Are their populations increasing or declining?

We know they use sea-ice as a habitat, but what do they do during winter, when sea-ice is at its greatest extent in the Southern Ocean? 

We know that the smallest Antarctic penguins, the Adelie penguins, rely on krill and forage away from their colonies all through the winter. But where do they go? How are they interacting with the krill? 

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