Overwinter sea-ice characteristics important for Antarctic krill recruitment in the southwest Atlantic

Climate change alters the extent and structure of sea-ice environments, which affects how they function as a habitat for polar species. Identifying characteristics that serve indicators quality will be crucial to monitoring management climate impacts. In Southern Ocean, Antarctic krill is key prey species fishery target. Krill larvae depend upon habitats survive winter recruit population in spring. Existing observations lack sufficient spatiotemporal coverage quantify ones contribute favourable overwintering habitat, leading uncertainties current future changes sea ice affect populations. Here, we derive regional-scale indices annual recruitment spanning 35 years across southwest Atlantic. To develop meaningful selected variables from high-resolution model are hypothesized relevant larval use. The resulting correlations between vary by region show remote connections correspond with established theories transport. Through an improved representation quality, compared using more traditional satellite-derived such duration, highlight plausible regions habitat. Our findings improve understanding likely responding changing support emerging views use complex. Furthermore, regional variation dependence on may provide pockets resilience broader population.