Krill community composition and grazing biology in a sub-Arctic Greenlandic fjord

Several studies have described the role of copepods in Arctic marine food webs. However, knowledge about larger zooplankton organisms like krill are very limited. Krill is an important food source for many marine animals and they are potentially a significant contributor to the vertical flux of organic material, i.e. the biological pump. Our aim is to improve the understanding and knowledge about the role of krill in a sub-Arctic fjord. During multiple cruises in the Godthåbsfjord, Southwest Greenland, krill abundance, distribution and grazing biology have been investigated trough field and laboratory experiments. In situ gut fluorescence experiments have been conducted to estimate gut evacuation -and ingestion rates of the dominating species Thysanoessa raschii and T. inermis. Furthermore, the functional biology of T. raschii on the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii has been examined. The present novel knowledge about krill abundance and grazing biology will provide the basis for a discussion of the role of krill in the pelagic food web of the sub-Arctic Godthåbsfjord