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Fishes of the eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica

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Abstract

Antarctic fishes were sampled with 41 midwater and 6 benthic trawls during the 1999–2000 austral summer in the eastern Ross Sea. The oceanic pelagic assemblage (0–1,000 m) contained Electrona antarctica, Gymnoscopelus opisthopterus, Bathylagus antarcticus, Cyclothone kobayashii and Notolepis coatsi. These were replaced over the shelf by notothenioids, primarily Pleuragramma antarcticum. Pelagic biomass was low and concentrated below 500 m. The demersal assemblage was characteristic of East Antarctica and included seven species each of Artedidraconidae, Bathydraconidae and Channichthyidae, ten species of Nototheniidae, and three species each of Rajidae and Zoarcidae. Common species were Trematomus eulepidotus (36.5%), T. scotti (32.0%), Prionodraco evansii (4.9%), T. loennbergii (4.7%) and Chaenodraco wilsoni (4.3%). Diversity indices were highest for tows from 450 to 517 m (H′=1.90–2.35). Benthic biomass ranged from 0.7 to 3.5 t km−2. It was generally higher in tows from 450 to 517 m (0.9–2.0 t km−2) although the highest biomass occurred at an inner-shelf station (238 m) due to large catches of T. eulepidotus, T. scotti and P. evansii.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Captain J. Borkowski and the crew of the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer, as well as K. Newyear and the team of marine technicians from Raytheon Polar Services Company for their expertise and immeasurable help with trawling operations. Thanks also go to K. Daly for her assistance at sea, both on deck and in the laboratory. This research was supported by NSF grant OPP9815973 and NSF grant OPP9910100, both to J.J.T.

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  1. College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

    Joseph Donnelly, Joseph J. Torres & Christina Simoniello

  2. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946, USA

    Tracey T. Sutton

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  1. Joseph Donnelly
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Correspondence to Joseph Donnelly.

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Donnelly, J., Torres, J.J., Sutton, T.T. et al. Fishes of the eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica. Polar Biol 27, 637–650 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0632-2

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