Aspects of nutritional metabolism of two Antarctic euphausiids: Euphausia superba and Thysanoessa macrura.

Abstract

Euphausia superba displayed a spectrum of enzyme activities characteristic of an omnivorous organism with affinities for phytoplanktonic material. Thysanoessa macrura, generally considered to be more carnivorous, appears to be omnivorous and to include some phytoplankton in it diet. In E. superba the western, smaller, lipid-rich individuals displayed lower enzyme activities than the eastern, large individuals, attributed to different physiology induced by differences in developmental stages. The subadult western population showed a negative correlation with the integrated content of chlorophyll-a, which is masked in the adult eastern population by specific energy needs related to reproductive metabolism.-from Authors