• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.75-86
• /
• 2005

Acoustic survey for density and biomass estimate of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, was conducted in the large area between South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands, during November 30-December 30, 2002. Considering oceanographic and geographic properties, the study area was divided into six sub-regions. Acoustic system and frequency used in the survey were quantitative echo sounder (Simrad Ek 500) and 38, 120-kHz split beam transducers. In order to discriminate krill aggregations in all acoustic signal, difference of mean volume backscattering strength $({\Delta}MVBS)$ method of the two frequencies was introduced. Averaged krill density for the overall surveyed area was $23.5g/m^2$, and spatially averaged estimates of krill density were $44.9g/m^2$ (north of the South Shetland Islands), $30.3g/m^2$ (Bransfield Strait), $11.3g/m^2$ (near the Elephant Island), $13.6g/m^2$ (north of the Elephant Island), $18.1g/m^2$(between Elephant Island and South Orkney Islands) and $21.7g/m^2$(northwest of the South Orkney Islands) at each sub-area. In the two sub-regions with surveyed area, estimated krill biomass in the north of the Elephant Island was 0.315 million tones with a CV of 18.35% $(6,766mile^2)$, and between Elephant Island and South Orkey Islands was 1.26 million tones with a CV of 9.45% $(20,299mile^2)$. As a whole, the krill density in the early summer season was low level, comparing with that of January-February. This suggested that major krill swarms in the around South Shetland Islands were reached in the mid-summer seasons from western part of the Antarctic Peninsula, and the low krill density also affects the density variation of the krill between Elephant Island and South Orkney Islands.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.111-121
• /
• 2021

Two cyanobacterial morphotypes isolated from Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, maritime Antarctica were characterised using a polyphasic approach combining morphological, cytological and molecular analyses. These analyses showed that the strains grouped with members of the genus Wilmottia. This genus currently includes three species, W. murrayi, W. stricta, and W. koreana. Both morphotypes analysed in this study were placed within the clade of W. murrayi. This clade showed a well-supported separation from Antarctic and New Zealand strains, as well as strains from other regions. W. murrayi was first described from Antarctica and is now known from several Antarctic regions. Confirmation of the occurrence of W. murrayi at Signy Island significantly extends its known distribution in Antarctica. In addition, a new combination, W. arthurensis, is suggested for Phormidium arthurensis.