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A first record of daytime surface swarming by Euphausia lucens in the Southern Benguela region

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Abstract

On 9 October, 1985 a daytime surface swarm of the euphausiid Euphausia lucens was observed and sampled in St. Helena Bay in the Southern Benguela region. The swarm was monospecific, consisted of adults in prebreeding condition and appeared to be feeding on detrital material. The swarm covered an estimated 46 ha, densities within it ranged between 4 000 and 1 500 000 individuals per cubic metre and the swarm was estimated to contain ∼5 000 tonnes of euphausiids. No simple explanation for the presence of the swarm was apparent.

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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

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Nicol, S., James, A. & Pitcher, G. A first record of daytime surface swarming by Euphausia lucens in the Southern Benguela region. Mar. Biol. 94, 7–10 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392893

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392893

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