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Distribution and biology of krill populations inhabiting in the Ross Sea
The main topics characterize this field of activity:
(i) krill biometry and demography (size/age composition and distribution, growth
life span and mortality) of the two main krill species living in the
Ross Sea
(E. superba
and E. crystallorophias). This activity provides information on
the physical and physiological characteristics of the two krill species. These information
include, besides size, weight, shape, also bulk modulus and shear modulus of the
body parts of krill, and the elasticity/thickness of carapaces;
(ii) krill molecular analysis (in collaboration with the Dept. of Biology of the
University of Padova): collection of specimen of E. superba naturally and
artificially entrained to be used for studies of the molecular organization and
functioning of the endogenous circadian clock/s of E. superba;
(iii) krill genetic analysis (in collaboration with the CNR - IAMC Section of Messina):
by means molecular methods of DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing of
PCR products, the genetic variability in the euphausiid populations will be analysed.
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