Invisible Oceans Founder's Collection: Invisible Oceans #14: Krill

Perhaps the most significant of all marine Crustacea is the Shrimp known collectively as 'krill'. Found in all oceans and at varying depths, by far the most plentiful populations abound in cool or cold waters of the Antarctic, the Arctic and in more tropical climes in waters around 1,000 metres deep. krill abound in vast swarms, swarms so big that in the Antarctic they colour the waters red or orange and can stretch not for metres, but for tens or even hundreds of kilometres, often very close to the surface. Perhaps more abundant, but seldom seen, are the swarms that collect beneath the ice and browse upon the algae on the underside of the ice. These krill Shrimps form the fundamental, and in some cases, the only food source for a host of other animals, most significantly the now recovering populations of baleen whales, like blues, seis, humpback, fin, right etc. Less well known as predators on krill, are the vast populatons of crabeater seals and many of their pinneped cousins. Krill also form a staple diet for many oceanic birds like albatross, shearwater and petrels.

Deep Sea Research Vessel Discover, Atlantic (1976)

Nikon F2 | Custom Optics | Kodachrome 64