Modelling growth of northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) using an energy-budget approach

•A simple energy-budget model was parameterised for northern krill.•The calibrated model predicted realistic ingestion and respiration rates.•The model was used to reconstruct feeding history from size data in the field.•Energy-budget parameters were compared to those of related and unrelated species.

Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) is an important species in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, but very little life-history information is available under controlled (laboratory) conditions. Here, we use the DEBkiss model to piece together the available data into a quantitative energy budget. We use this model to analyse larval growth curves, and to reconstruct the feeding history for field populations from their (reconstructed) multi-year growth patterns. The resulting model parameters are also used to provide estimates for respiration, feeding and reproduction rates that are consistent with measured values. Many uncertainties remain, but this analysis demonstrates how simple and generic energy-budget models have the potential to integrate observations on different traits, to interpret growth as a function of food and temperature, and to compare different species in a meaningful manner.

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