WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
Researchers identified 15 euphausiid species and compared stable isotopes and fatty-acid biomarkers across northern/southern and nearshore/offshore sectors. Euphausia lucens dominated much of the system, but community composition and diets differed. Estimated trophic positions spanned approximately 2–3.7, with larvae largely herbivorous and some adults, including Stylocheiron, predominantly carnivorous.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
If survey models treat all krill biomass as an identical transfer from plankton to fish, they can miss diet and habitat differences that shape food-web response. Species and life-stage composition matter.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
Biomarkers infer feeding roles and are subject to baseline and sampling assumptions. This study does not directly demonstrate changes in fish recruitment or ecosystem recovery.
SOURCE
Jordan et al. · Frontiers in Marine Science · Benguela trophic-ecology study (15 Oct 2026)
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