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Krill-it’s a familiar word that conjures oceans, whales, and swimming crustaceans. Scientists say they are one of most abundant animals on the planet. But when pressed, few people can accurately describe krill or explain their ecological importance. Antarctic krill have used their extraordinary adaptive skills to survive and thrive for millions of years in a dark, icy world far from human interference. But with climate change melting ice caps at the top and bottom of the world, and increased human activity and pollution, their evolutionary flexibility to withstand these new pressures may not be enough. Eminent krill scientist Stephen Nicol wants us to know more about this enigmatic creature of the sea. He argues that it’s critical to understand krill’s complex biology in order to protect them as the krill fishing industry expands. This account of Antarctic krill-one of the largest of eighty-five krill species-takes us to the Southern Ocean to learn firsthand the difficulties and rewards of studying krill in its habitat. Nicol lays to rest the notion that krill are simply microscopic, shrimplike whale food but are in fact midway up the food chain, consumers of phytoplankton and themselves consumed by whales, seals, and penguins. From his early education about the sex lives of krill in the Bay of Fundy to a krill tattoo gone awry, Nicol uses humor and personal stories to bring the biology and beauty of krill alive. In the final chapters, he examines the possibility of an increasingly ice-free Southern Ocean and what that means for the fate of krill-and us. Ocean enthusiasts will come away with a newfound appreciation for the complex ecology of a species we have much to learn from, and many reasons to protect.

Krill fisheries --- Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. --- Fisheries --- Shellfish fisheries --- Aquatic biology. --- Ecology. --- Endangered ecosystems. --- Animal ecology. --- Wildlife management. --- Freshwater & Marine Ecology. --- Community & Population Ecology. --- Ecosystems. --- Animal Ecology. --- Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management. --- Animals --- Zoology --- Ecology --- Threatened ecosystems --- Biotic communities --- Nature conservation --- Balance of nature --- Biology --- Bionomics --- Ecological processes --- Ecological science --- Ecological sciences --- Environment --- Environmental biology --- Oecology --- Environmental sciences --- Population biology --- Hydrobiology --- Water biology --- Aquatic sciences --- Animal populations --- Game management --- Management, Game --- Management, Wildlife --- Plant populations --- Wildlife resources --- Natural resources --- Wildlife conservation --- Management --- Aquatic ecology . --- Community ecology, Biotic. --- Wildlife. --- Fish. --- Fish --- Pisces --- Aquatic animals --- Vertebrates --- Fishing --- Ichthyology --- Biocenoses --- Biocoenoses --- Biogeoecology --- Biological communities --- Biomes --- Biotic community ecology --- Communities, Biotic --- Community ecology, Biotic --- Ecological communities --- Ecosystems --- Natural communities --- Aquatic biology --- Antarctic Ocean. --- CCAMLR --- Commission pour la conservation de la faune et la flore marines de l'Antarctique --- Komissii͡a po sokhranenii͡u morskikh zhivykh resursov Antarktiki --- Comisión para la Conservación de los Recursos Vivos Marinos Antárticos --- Komissii︠a︡ po sokhranenii︠u︡ morskikh zhivykh resursov Antarktiki --- Southern Ocean