Rotation order parameters in each trial of Antarctic krill in lab experiments at Palmer Station, Antarctica in November 2022.

Laboratory experiments were conducted on schools of Antarctic krill in the novel annular flume at Palmer Station, Antarctica, in November 2022. Using overhead camera along with stereophotogrammetry system the swimming trajectories of krill were recorded while altering flow and light levels in the tank.

The purpose of the study is to understand how Antarctic krill schooling structure changes under environmental cues such as flow and light, with the hope that distribution of these important species can be predicted through knowledge of the environment in the wild. Southern Ocean ecologists, biologists, and oceanographers in general could benefit from this work. Kuvvat Garayev and David Murphy from University of South Florida were responsible for the collection and interpretation of data.