Larval fish distribution and abundance in the Antarctic Peninsula region and adjacent waters

The spatial distribution, species composition and abundance of ichthyoplankton in the Bransfield Strait and adjacent waters were studied during two cruises in the Antarctic spring 1991/92 and summer 1992/93 seasons. A multiple plankton net (Bioness) and a Bongo net were used to collect samples at 35 stations in 1991/92 and 75 stations in 1992/93. Early larval stages (14 species) and juveniles (13 species) representing the known Bransfield Strait ichthyofauna were present in the water column. The nototheniids predominated in the entire study area. The greatest species diversity was found in the uppermost 200 m of the water column in the Bransfield Strait. Notothenia gibberifrons and Nototheniops larseni dominated in spring, whilst in summer Pleuragramma antarcticum dominated in association with N. larseni. The dominant species in the Gerlache Strait were P. antarcticum and Notothenia kempi, while P. antarcticum and Trematomus scotti were predominant in the Bellingshausen Sea areaThis paper is a result of the projects "Oceanografia del Estrecho de Bransfield: par/tmetros ambientales, producción y caracterización de sus comunidades planct6nicas" and "Oceanogrfifia dinfimica y productividad del Estrecho de Bransfield durante el verano Austral" sponsored by the Spanish Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (C.I.C.Y.T.). The Commander and crew of the "B.I.O. Hespérides" on each cruise, Mr. Dan Wellwood (Easter Marine Marsh) and Drs. I. Moreno and I. Roca (U.I.B.) are thanked for their invaluable help. Dr. B. Lynas prepared the English version of the paperPeer reviewe