216 pages
6 x 9
14 photos, 4 illustrations
"Makes you feel as if you're part of an engaging dinnertime conversation." —Science News
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.
"Marine scientist Nicol's passion for krill...certainly comes across...those seeking a very accessible entry point to marine biology and conservation will find it here."
Publishers Weekly
"As the Antarctic ecosystem warms, it becomes ever more important that we understand the biology of krill and how their adaptation to climate change will impact the other varied species that feed on them. Of interest to marine scientists and anyone concerned for the future of our oceans."
Library Journal
"The book is an ode to Antarctic krill... [Its] conversational...style makes you feel as if you’re part of an engaging dinnertime conversation."
Science News
"The Curious Life of Krill and Spying on Whales are the enthusiastic account of two distinguished scientists who know how to write for a lay as well as specialist readership and who have not allowed their critical minds to suppress their sense of wonder at the richness of their subject matter. Both books make important contributions to the literature of natural history."
Times Literary Supplement
"The Curious Life of Krill takes the reader deep into the Southern Ocean...Nicol writes passionately about [krill] biology, exploitation, and management."
Nature
"Fascinating...Nicol's book deftly explains [krill's] life history and critical place in marine ecosystems."
Hakai Magazine newsletter
"A captivating little book...Nicol does a superb job of distilling crustacean biology, hard-won personal experience, and interesting history into a book that never gets a chance to outstay its welcome. If you have even the slightest interest in books on oceanography, marine ecosystems, or the many interesting creatures that live here you should most certainly add this book to your reading list."
Inquisitive Biologist
"Builds a clear and credible picture of the Southern Ocean krill story based on the career of a biologist committed to the subject."
Fish and Fisheries
"This book distills highly technical data and personal experiences into fact-based storytelling that keeps the reader engaged while retaining accurate background knowledge on krill."
The Polar Journal
"The Curious Life of Krill offers a newfound appreciation for the complex ecology of a species we have much to learn from, and many reasons to protect. An exceptional and impressively informative study...unreservedly recommended."
Midwest Book Review
"Few scientists delight in the subjects of their study with the renaissance manner of Nicol. In The Curious Life of Krill, Nicol combines science, philosophy, art, and conservation to tell a deeply personal story of his life's work: Antarctic krill. He does so with insight, humor, and engaging, accessible prose that encourages us to think bravely and broadly about how to look after our world. For this we should be deeply grateful."
Nick Gales, Director, Australian Antarctic Division
"A gem…this book entertains as much as informs…Nicol is the ideal krill champion, giving us facts and history interwoven with anecdotes, personal experiences, and insights into the lives of these fascinating creatures…Having read it once, I immediately wanted to read it again."
Conservation Biology
"An essential reflection on an essential set of creatures. With wit and hard-earned wisdom, Stephen Nicol reveals how krill drive the ecosystems at the bottom of the world and how, in an era of profound climate change, they require our most careful attention."
Paul Greenberg, Correspondent for Frontline's "The Fish on My Plate," and author of "Four Fish" and "American Catch"
"Krill expert Stephen Nicol transports us to the world of one of the ocean's most important, least-understood creatures. A krill is indeed curious: its ability to shrink when short of food, its intricate relationship with Antarctic sea ice, and its critical role in great-whale ecosystems. Read this book and you will understand our human relationship with krill, and feel that you have swum with it through Antarctic seas."
David Agnew, Director of Science, Marine Stewardship Council
Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1 Oceans of Krill
Chapter 2 Going with the Floes
Chapter 3 Labors of Love
Chapter 4 Bringing Krill to Life
Chapter 5 Antarctic Fast Food
Chapter 6 Eating Krill
Chapter 7 Conventional Approaches
Chapter 8 Krill Futures
Acknowledgments
Glossary
Further Reading
About the Author
Index
As I watched, mesmerized, this mass of crustaceans became a living brick-red raft, writhing on top of the water’s surface. The water became disturbed as thousands of krill flipped their muscular tails and leaped clear of the water, falling back like a shower of pink raindrops.
So begins the journey that cemented Stephen Nicol’s passion for krill. Now, after studying the crustacean for nearly 40 years, Nicol wants us to know more about this enigmatic and vitally important creature of the sea. In The Curious Life of Krill, he debunks the myth that krill are simply microscopic whale food and immerses readers in a dark and icy world full of wonder and surprises. Read on for eight surprising words that describe this misunderstood species.
1. Copious. Antarctic krill may be the most abundant animal on earth. By weight, there could be more krill on the planet than humans.
2. Average. Krill are not tiny, microscopic zooplankton. They are average-sized marine animals, weighing about a gram and growing to 6 centimeters in length. Their size usually shocks first-time viewers who expect them to be much smaller.
3. Beautiful. Krill are mostly transparent but can blush brick-red when stressed. They can also put on a spectacular light show when stimulated using their many blue light organs. Their underlying color depends in part on their diet: krill can be dark green in the spring when they are gorging on algae but become less verdant during the rest of the year.
4. Cool. Antarctic krill, not surprisingly, are only found in the icy waters around Antarctica. Water temperatures above five degrees Celsius cook krill. Their habitat is covered by ice for much of the year and their young depend on plants that grow on or in the ice.
5. Geriatric. Krill can reach the ripe old age of 12 years. They grow by moulting but if food is in short supply they can shrink in length. This confuses scientist’s attempts to work out how old individual krill are because small krill are not always young krill.
6. Sociable. Krill live in vast swarms or schools that can stretch for tens of kilometers. Curiously, living in such large, obvious aggregations makes life safer for individual krill but it does mean that bulk feeders such as whales can eat millions of krill in a single mouthful.
7. Nutritious. Vast numbers of penguins, seals and whales survive on a diet of Antarctic krill and grow and reproduce at amazing rates. The nutritional value (and abundance) of krill also means that they are currently fished to produce food for farmed fish.
8. Commercial. Antarctic krill have been commercially fished for over 40 years. The current catch of approximately 200,000 tons/year makes it one of the world’s largest crustacean fisheries, but this level of catch is less than five percent of the estimated sustainable level of harvest.
As I watched, mesmerized, this mass of crustaceans became a living brick-red raft, writhing on top of the water’s surface. The water became disturbed as thousands of krill flipped their muscular tails and leaped clear of the water, falling back like a shower of pink raindrops.
So begins the journey that cemented Stephen Nicol’s passion for krill. Now, after studying the crustacean for nearly 40 years, Nicol wants us to know more about this enigmatic and vitally important creature of the sea. In The Curious Life of Krill, he debunks the myth that krill are simply microscopic whale food and immerses readers in a dark and icy world full of wonder and surprises. Written by one of the world’s leading krill scientists, The Curious Life of Krill is a joyful account of a species we have much to learn from, and many reasons to protect.
Read Chapter 1: Oceans of Krill below.
