Thysanoessa macrura: life history parameters and lipid profiles - data from the K-Axis voyage, 2016

Published: 2019-08-22

These data were collected on the K-Axis voyage of the Aurora Australis, in 2016. The voyage was so named because data were collected along the "Kerguelen Axis" of the undersea Kerguelen Plateau. This dataset includes life history and biochemical data for the euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura. The specimens were collected along the Kerguelen Axis : the data cover length-weight relationships, growth rates, cohort analysis and lipid content and fatty acid and fatty alcohol profiles. Zooplankton were collected with a Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT 8+1 net) from 37 sampling sites on and near the Southern Kerguelen Plateau. Specimens of the euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura were selected for cohort analysis, based on lengths, and allometry (dry weights and lengths). Lipids were extracted from the animals to provide a lipid content (%) as a function of dry weight. A small number of individuals was examined further to produce profiles of the main fatty acids and fatty alcohols. Instantaneous growth rate experiments (IGR) were conducted onboard to determine growth rates of males, females and juveniles.