Recently, the "Snow Dragon 2", which is carrying out China's 40th Antarctic expedition, has arrived at the first integrated operation station in the Amundsen Sea. In the Southern Ocean, there is one of the most biomass animals on the planet -Antarctic krillIt is one of the key contents of the scientists' Antarctic expedition.
What kind of creature is Antarctic krill?
Let's find out
Antarctic krill are 3 5 cm long and generally weigh no more than 2 gramsIt is the animal with the largest biomass on the planetreached 350 million tons. Antarctic krill can emit yellowish phosphorescence in the dark, and its light-emitting organs are mainly located in its eye column and thorax and feet.
Most of the animals of Antarctica, including:Seals, seabirds, baleen whales, penguins, etc., basically all eat Antarctic krill as their main food**,The food of Antarctic krill is mainly Antarctic phytoplankton, especially algae such as ice algae and diatoms.
The entire krill is at a critical point in the food chain of the Antarctic continentIt belongs to one of the most central positions of the energy and matter cycle. Therefore, we say that Antarctic krill is a foundational organism and a foundational species of the entire Southern Ocean ecosystem. Antarctic krill are so abundant that it is currently estimated that there may be between 600 million and 1 billion tonnes.
Can you eat Antarctic krill?
Antarctic shrimp is known as the "protein storehouse". Shrimp meat is high in proteinThe content is much higher than that of beef and general fish, and it also contains a variety of amino acids necessary for the human body. But this does not mean that direct human consumption of krill is recommended.
According to research, its shell contains veryA large amount of fluoride,If it is consumed in excess, it will cause our fluorosis, which will causeJoint pain, leg pain, nausea and vomitingand other symptoms.
Scientists say that although Antarctic krill is not directly edible, it is still the largest reservoir of animal protein on the planet and an important strategic fishery resource. Now the exploitation of Antarctic krillIt is mainly used to extract krill oil and make krill meal into high-quality feed
The genome is 16 times larger than the human genome
In addition to the largest biomass,Antarctic krill is also the species with the largest animal genome in the world。Through research, Chinese scientists have successfully deciphered the largest genome to date. In March 2023, the top international academic journal "Cell" published a research result related to the genome assembly of Antarctic krill: Antarctic krill has the largest animal genome reference sequence to date.
Shao Changwei, director of the Aquatic Biotechnology and Genomics Laboratory of the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, introduced: The human genome 32 g, Antarctic krill although very small, butIts genome is 16 times larger than the human genome
Antarctic krill with a large populationIt is an important protein reservoir and strategic resource for human beingsIt has always attracted the attention of scientists from all over the world. With a complete DNA sequence map, many of the biological characteristics of Antarctic krill are based.
At present, the conservation of Antarctic krill resources,It is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which is composed of 26 member countriesThe latest directions in conservation efforts are: first, to prevent krill populations from being affected; Second, commercial fishing quotas should be set for different areas, and various measures should be taken to protect the biodiversity of Antarctica and the stability of ecosystems.
*: China's well-off network WeChat*** comprehensive Xinhua News Agency, CCTV news, CCTV-1 "Evening News", "Morning News World".
Source: CCTV News** screenshot.
Editor-in-charge: Tian Yuanhuaying.
Review: Zhou Jingtao.