Summary
The early life history of Pleuragramma antarcticum off the Antarctic Peninsula is described from extensive material collected during four expeditions between 1975/76 and 1982 by means of an RMT 1+8. Postlarvae occurred frequently on the northern continental shelf in February and March except during the 1977/78 season when they were almost absent. Abundance varied mainly between 1.8 and 14.7 postlarvae per 103 m3 with maxima between 32.6 and 143.3 per 103 m3. Juveniles were less abundant with 0.1–4.9 and maxima between 9.8 and 28.3 per 103 m3, but formed a consistent, predominant proportion (83–97%) of the pelagic juvenile fish fauna throughout the years of the study. They were distributed over the whole Bransfield Strait and adjacent waters in the top 200 m. Postlarvae and juveniles showed different patterns of vertical distribution; more than 70% of postlarvae occurred in the top 135 m of the water column whereas 83% of juveniles were encountered between 70 and 200 m with increasing abundance towards the lower depth. Three length groups were identified corresponding to age groups 0, 1, and 2. Hatching was estimated to occur in December. Postlarval distribution patterns and the prevailing transport of water masses suggest that coastal waters south of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and in the north-eastern Bellingshausen Sea are probable spawning areas. The Bransfield Strait and adjacent waters represent nursery grounds for the early stages of P. antarcticum from these sites.
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Kellermann, A. Geographical distribution and abundance of postlarval and juvenile Pleuragramma antarcticum (Pisces, Notothenioidei) off the Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 6, 111–119 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258262
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258262