From 1989\/90 to date, seven acoustic surveys have been conducted in the Ross Sea during which data have been collected on the two krill species (Euphausia superba and Euphausia crystallorophias) that constitute the Middle Trophic Level (MTL) of this Region aimed at studying their biomass and geographic distribution, demography, surrounding environment (through CTD and XBT sampling) and, in some campaigns, studying their predators through visual surveys. Krill is a key resource for a wide variety of marine mammals and birds, and the establishment of the Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea could be an important initiative to safeguard it; however, the level of krill abundance should be monitored regularly and rigorously, also to ascertain any benefits that the establishment of the protected area may foster. The acoustic survey also allows monitoring of Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica).<\/p>\n
The present project is proposed as a continuation of similar studies carried out in past years (2004, 2014 and 2016) by conducting a survey covering the area that includes the two main cores of abundance of the two krill species, known from the knowledge gained during previous campaigns. The results of this project will allow the comparison of the abundance and spatial distribution of the two krill species in years close to each other, in relation to fluctuations in key environmental parameters. It will also be possible to increase the body of knowledge useful for the identification of Antarctic silverfish aggregations, while preliminary models on its specific acoustic reflectivity (Target Strength) are already available; an estimate, albeit preliminary, of its biomass can then be made.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","project_program":[],"categoria_progetti":[],"class_list":["post-11407","progetto-dettagli","type-progetto-dettagli","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irbim.cnr.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/progetto-dettagli\/11407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irbim.cnr.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/progetto-dettagli"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irbim.cnr.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/progetto-dettagli"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irbim.cnr.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project_program","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irbim.cnr.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_program?post=11407"},{"taxonomy":"categoria_progetti","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irbim.cnr.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categoria_progetti?post=11407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}