CCAMLR

Water flows in harvestable areas for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) on the continental slope and shelf of the South Shetland Islands were examined based on drifting buoy data. Convergent complex eddies were observed in harvestable areas on the shelf, while shear current was observed in those on the slope. Large-scale movements of the buoys suggest krill flux from the South Shetlands into South Georgia or the South Orkneys.

Consistent gender differences in foraging trip durations, feeding localities and diet of breeding Adelie penguins were demonstrated at two widely separated locations over a number of years. Female penguins tended to make longer foraging trips than males, ranged greater distances more frequently and consumed larger quantities of krill, especially when chicks were small. Males tended instead to make shorter journeys to closer foraging grounds during the guard period, and fed more extensively on fish throughout chick rearing. The importance of these results to monitoring programs such as the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP), their relevance to the energetics of reproduction and their role in the intraspecific partitioning of foraging behaviour are discussed.

The survey design for an integrated biological/physical survey of Division 58.4.1 during January - March 1996 is presented in this paper. Key measurements to be taken during this survey include hydroacoustic determinations of krill distribution and abundance and physical oceanographic sampling along 18 regularly spaced transects from the Antarctic coastline to a distance of 180 n miles. The data on krill distribution and abundance will be submitted to CCAMLR for the purpose of setting a precautionary catch limit on the krill fishery in Division 58.4.1.

A population dynamics model for Adelie penguins is developed which takes account of the factors of lower adult survival rates in the year of first breeding, and the possibility that such breeding may be deferred one year if conditions are poor. A Bayesian approach for estimation of the model parameters is put forward; its estimation performance (including robustness to certain mis-specifications) is tested by simulation, and it is applied to preliminary data for penguin colonies in the South Shetlands for illustrative purposes. The results for this case would likely be improved by the provision of more comprehensive data. Extensions of the overall approach are suggested, but a prerequisite for their pursuit is discussions on the likely levels of measurement error in the observational data.

A method is put forward which estimates the proportions by which the annual consumption of krill is split between predator species. This method uses data on the length distribution of krill from predator stomachs. The proportions estimated depend, through the krill yield model, on the schedule of krill natural mortality at age. In principle, such a method would allow inferences about this schedule to be drawn by comparing the proportions which it predicts to independent estimates based on predator abundance and food consumption studies. Some results of the method are put forward purely for illustrative purposes. Further discussions about the practicalities of obtaining reliable estimates of the inputs required by such an approach are required before it is taken further.