Consumption of Antarctic krill by Minke whales

The consumption of Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) by an “average-sized” (male 6994 kg; female 8249 kg), sexually mature Minke whale ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ) was estimated, from stomach capacity, ingestion rate and respiratory allometry methods. Estimates obtained from the stomach capacity and respiratory allometry methods differed by 17%–23%. An “average-sized” male Minke whale consumes 37.2 t of krill during a 90-day stay, and an “average-sized” female Minke whale consumes 56.2 t of krill during a 120-day stay, in Antarctic waters during the austral summer. It is estimated that the Minke whale population in the Antarctic (60°S and higher) consumes 35.5 × 10 6 t of krill annually.