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Species

Northern krill

Meganyctiphanes norvegica

Northern krill is a large swarming crustacean that grazes on plankton and becomes prey for fish, seabirds, and whales.

Ecoregions
Norwegian Current
Ecoregion types
Polar & Subpolar
Trophic levels
Primary Consumer

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About this species

Species identity

Meganyctiphanes norvegica is a North Atlantic krill species that often forms dense swarms and migrates vertically between surface and deeper waters. It is a major food-web link in Norwegian Current ecosystems.

Where it lives

Northern krill occurs in the northeastern Atlantic, especially in shelf-edge and subpolar waters influenced by strong currents. It is common in Norwegian Sea food webs where plankton production is high.

Role in the ecosystem

Northern krill is one of the main pathways moving plankton production into higher trophic levels.

Citation

https://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/CM%20Doccuments/2000/M/M0900.pdf

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