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Allometric relationships between body properties of animals are useful for a wide variety of purposes, such as estimation of biomass, growth, population structure, bioenergetic modelling and carbon flux studies. This study summarizes allometric relationships of zooplankton and nekton species that play major roles in polar marine food webs. Measurements were performed on 639 individuals of 15 species sampled during three expeditions in the Southern Ocean (winter and summer) and 2374 individuals of 14 species sampled during three expeditions in the Arctic Ocean (spring and summer). The information provided by this study fills current knowledge gaps on relationships between length and wet/dry mass of understudied animals, such as various gelatinous zooplankton, and of animals from understudied seasons and maturity stages, for example, for the krill Thysanoessa macrura and larval Euphausia superba caught in winter. Comparisons show that there is intra-specific variation in length–mass relationships of several species depending on season, e.g. for the amphipod Themisto libellula. To investigate the potential use of generalized regression models, comparisons between sexes, maturity stages or age classes were performed and are discussed, such as for the several krill species and T. libellula. Regression model comparisons on age classes of the fish E. antarctica were inconclusive about their general use. Other allometric measurements performed on carapaces, eyes, heads, telsons, tails and otoliths provided models that proved to be useful for estimating length or mass in, e.g. diet studies. In some cases, the suitability of these models may depend on species or developmental stages.

This dataset summarizes allometric measurements on zooplankton and nekton species performed in the framework of the Dutch and German ICEFLUX projects. Measurements were performed on 639 individuals of 15 species from the Southern Ocean and 2374 individuals of 14 species from the Arctic Ocean, including euphausiids, fish, pelagic and ice-associated amphipods, cnidarians, salps, siphonophores, chaetognaths and a copepod. Animals were collected during three expeditions in the Southern Ocean (winter and summer) and three expeditions in the Arctic Ocean (spring and summer). In addition to measurements on length and mass, the sizes of body parts were measured, such as carapaces, eyes, heads, telsons, tails and otoliths., This dataset summarizes allometric measurements on zooplankton and nekton species performed in the framework of the Dutch and German ICEFLUX projects. Measurements were performed on 639 individuals of 15 species from the Southern Ocean and 2374 individuals of 14 species from the Arctic Ocean, including euphausiids, fish, pelagic and ice-associated amphipods, cnidarians, salps, siphonophores, chaetognaths and a copepod. Animals were collected during three expeditions in the Southern Ocean (winter and summer) and three expeditions in the Arctic Ocean (spring and summer). In addition to measurements on length and mass, the sizes of body parts were measured, such as carapaces, eyes, heads, telsons, tails and otoliths.

Semi‐automated methods for microscopic image acquisition, image analysis and taxonomic identification have repeatedly received attention in diatom analysis. Less well studied is the question whether and how such methods might prove useful for clarifying the delimitation of species that are difficult to separate for human taxonomists. To try to answer this question, three very similar Fragilariopsis species endemic to the Southern Ocean were targeted in this study: F. obliquecostata, F. ritscheri, and F. sublinearis. A set of 501 extended focus depth specimen images were obtained using a standardized, semi‐automated microscopic procedure. Twelve diatomists independently identified these specimen images in order to reconcile taxonomic opinions and agree upon a taxonomic gold standard. Using image analyses, we then extracted morphometric features representing taxonomic characters of the target taxa. The discriminating ability of individual morphometric features was tested visually and statistically, and multivariate classification experiments were performed to test the agreement of the quantitatively‐defined taxa assignments with expert consensus opinion. Beyond an updated differential diagnosis of the studied taxa, our study also shows that automated imaging and image analysis procedures for diatoms are coming close to reaching a broad applicability for routine use.

On Antarctic shelves, glass sponges (Porifera, Hexactinellida) dominate the megabenthic epifauna. But in spite of intensive research on epifauna community structure, process studies on the ecophysiology of key species are so far lacking, due to the difficulty of accessing glass sponges in their habitat and keeping them alive for experimental work. Here, we present preliminary results of an in situ study carried out in the Weddell Sea using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to measure feeding, respiration, ammonium excretion and silicate uptake in the common glass sponges Rossella nuda / Anoxycalyx joubini, R. racovitzae and R. villosa. A custom-developed ROV-mounted water sampler was successfully deployed. A total of 22 samples from sponge oscula and 21 samples from ambient waters were analyzed for picoplankton, ammonium and dissolved silicate concentrations. Optode measurements in the ambient water and inside the sponge oscula revealed a measurable difference of ~0.5 µM oxygen between ambient and exhalant waters. Together with estimates of the exhalant volume flow from concomitant fluorescein dye experiments, the oxygen and silicon uptake as well as the ammonium excretion of individual sponges can be estimated. Our findings will help elucidate the role of hexactinellid sponges in carbon and silicon cycling and contribute to understanding future effects of sea-ice and productivity changes on Antarctic ecosystem structure, functioning and services.

Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is a key species in the Southern Ocean. However, information on larval krill overwintering strategy and habitat requirement is limited during winter. Our study investigated the physiological condition of larval and juvenile krill during austral winter 2013 in the Northern Weddell Sea. Larval krill condition was compared in different habitats (open water, Marginal ice zone, pack ice). In all regions, condition was quantified by determining their body length (BL), dry weight (DW), elemental and biochemical composition and rates of growth. Chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration was measured as a proxy of food availability in the water column and sea ice. Additionally, concentrations of particulate organic carbon (POC) were measured in sea ice. Growth rates in juveniles were similar in open water (0.011 mm d-1) and in the pack ice (0.019 mm d-1). But highest values were in juveniles at MIZ-2 (0.169 mm d-1). BL and DW were similar in juveniles at open water, the Marginal ice zone and the pack ice. Elemental and biochemical analysis revealed two main feeding strategies: juveniles in the pack ice primarily used body protein for energy provision and had an autotrophic diet. At open water and the MIZ juveniles utilized lipid reserves for energy and ingested a protein-rich diet. This indicates a degree of flexibility in energy source and diet. The physiological condition of the juveniles differed between the studied regions, but no overall better condition was found at one region. Within the pack ice, larvae from Ice camp 1 were generally in a better condition. Equivalent larval stages were 5 mm larger and had more DW at Ice camp 1. Stage composition consisted mainly in fucilia 6 and juveniles at Ice camp 1, whereas younger stages (F3-F6) were dominant at Ice camp 2. The inter-molt period was 50 days longer in Ice camp 2. Thus, the Ice camp 2 larvae were late spawners. We conclude that the present state of Ice camp 2 larvae reflects poor food