The Australian Antarctic Division carried out an extensive sampling program for pelagic and benthic fauna in Prydz Bay, Antarctica (Indian Ocean Sector) in January to March, 1991.
A total of 341 cephalopod specimens comprising 256 squids and 85 octopods were captured for study.
This preliminary report presents capture records of eight species of squids; Brachioteuthis sp., Kondakovia longimena, Bathyteuthis abyssicola, Mastigoteuthis psychrophila, Psychroteuthis glacialis, Alluroteuthis antarcticus, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, and Galiteuthis glacialis. The Octopods captured are Megalehedone senei and several species of Pareledone.
Psychroteuthis glacialis is reported to congregate on the bottom near the shelf edge at the depth of 400 - 600 m.
No distinctive pattern in diel vertical movement was found for any of the species captured. Evidence suggests the existence of ontogenetic descent in Galiteuthis glacialis.
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Abstract:
Zones of 20 km width are defined around selected colonies of penguins distributed around the coasts of the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands. Krill catches in these zones are shown to have a consistent pattern in Subarea 48.1 but an unpredictable distribution in Subarea 48.2, probably as a result of oceanographic conditions. About 50% of the catch in Subarea 48.1 from December to March was taken within 40 km of the coast, and 90% within 80 km in all years 1988-1990. In 1987 and 1988 75% of the catch in Subarea 48.2 between December and March was taken within 80 km of colonies in the South Orkneys. Estimates of consumption rates, foraging ranges and population sizes from the literature are used to show that for some years, months and zones of distance from the shore the catch of krill is 50% or more of the land-based predator consumption.
