Title Biology of the Antarctic eelpout Pachycara brachycephalum
Author Brodte, E.; Knust, R.; Portner, H.O.; Arntz, W.E.
Author Affil Brodte, E., Alfred-Wegener- Institut for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Federal Republic of Germany. Other: Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Federal Republic of Germany
Source EASIZ; ecology of the Antarctic sea ice zone. Deep-Sea Research. Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 53(8-10), p.1131- 1140; [EASIZ; ecology of the Antarctic sea ice zone final symposium, Korcula, Croatia, Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2004]; edited by A. Clarke, W.E. Arntz and C.R. Smith. Publisher: Elsevier, Oxford, International. ISSN: 0967- 0645
Publication Date Apr., 2006
Notes In English. Based on Publisher- supplied data GeoRef Acc. No: 301071
Index Terms Antarctica--Antarctic Peninsula; Southern Ocean; Actinopterygii; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarctica; biology; Chordata; growth; living taxa; Osteichthyes; otoliths; Pachycara brachycephalum; Perciformes; physiology; Pisces; reproduction; statistical analysis; Teleostei; temperature; Vertebrata; Zoarcidae
Abstract The aim of this study was to relate the distribution of the Antarctic eelpout, Pachycara brachycephalum, to available physiological data, and to detect constraints in life history and biology. A population of Pachycara brachycephalum from the Antarctic Peninsula was investigated with regard to its growth and fecundity. At this sampling site, the species occurs in water depths around 400 m, much shallower than where it is found in high Antarctic waters. The age of this species was determined by applying the annulus count method to the otoliths. Growth parameters, which show no strong sexual dimorphism, are L~=36.0 cm; k=0.12; t0=-1.75 (male) and L~=36.0 cm; k=0.10; t0=-2.99 (female). The maximum age found was 14 years, and maturity is reached after 5 years. At the end of July, females spawn about 80 eggs with a diameter of 9 mm. The smallest fish found so far was an early juvenile of 4.4 cm. The life style characteristics of this species are similar to other polar and boreal eelpout species, supporting the uniformity of the Zoarcidae in general traits.
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10.1016/j.dsr2.2006.02.011
Publication Type conference paper or compendium article
Record ID 88826