Paper Explores the Drivers of Krill Distribution and Abundance in The Northeastern United States

This 2018 study is the first systematic attempt to examine factors driving the large-scale distribution and abundance of krill in the waters of the northeastern United States. Based on 34 years of krill surveys conducted at least once per season, the study found complex patterns in the distribution of these small invertebrates, which are often important prey for fish, birds, and marine mammals. For example, multiple factors drove the distribution and abundance of the seven krill species in the region. These factors included season, salinity, features of the sea floor such as the continental shelf break, and climatic patterns such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. The study is an important starting point for understanding the distribution and abundance of krill in the northeastern United States, and the relative importance of krill in the food web. Understanding these historical patterns will help researchers estimate the impact of future changes in krill distribution and abundance on other parts of the ecosystem, including commercial fish species.

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Lowe, M. R., Lawson, G. L., & Fogarty, M. J. 2018. Drivers of euphausiid distribution and abundance in the Northeast US Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem. ICES Journal of Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx247.