THE LIFE-CYCLE STRATEGY OF THE ICE-ASSOCIATED COPEPOD, PARALABIDOCERA-ANTARCTICA (CALANOIDA, COPEPODA), AT SYOWA STATION, ANTARCTICA

The vertical distribution, abundance, population structure and life cy cle of the ice-associated copepod, Paralabidocera antarctica was studi ed in the fast ice near Syowa Station (69 degrees 00'S, 39 degrees 35' E) in the eastern part of Lutzow-Holm Bay in 1970, 1975 and 1982. The results indicated that P. antarctica inhabited the ice-seawater interf ace throughout the year with a one year life cycle and was actually pr esent in the sea ice for most of the year except the summer. P. antarc tica overwintered as naupliar stages (NIV-NV) with slow development in sea ice during winter. P. antarctica population then developed rapidl y and attained adulthood in the water just beneath the sea ice during spring-summer. P. antarctica depended entirely on ice algae for food t hroughout its whole life-span, suggesting that the ice-seawater interf ace provides favourable food conditions for P. antarctica. The slow de velopment in naupliar stages in sea ice and short copepodite life span in the water suggest that P. antarctica may adapt its growth strategy to suit the varying fast ice/water interface environment.