LIFE-CYCLE STRATEGIES OF CALANOIDES-ACUTUS, CALANUS-PROPINQUUS, AND METRIDIA-GERLACHEI (COPEPODA, CALANOIDA) IN THE EASTERN WEDDELL-SEA, ANTARCTICA

The dominant Antarctic copepods Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus, and Metridia geplachei were studied in the eastern Weddell Sea during mid-winter (July/August 1986), late winter/early spring (October/Nove mber 1986), summer (January/February 1985), and autumn (April/May 1992 ). The investigations focused on abundance, distribution, population d ynamics, reproductive activity, and lipid contents. All three species had highest abundances in autumn. C. acutus exhibited the most pronoun ced seasonal vertical migrations, whereas M. gerlachei was more disper sed throughout the water column. In contrast, the majority of C. propi nquus remained in the upper 200 m for most of the year; only in late w inter/spring was it located mainly between 200 and 500 m. For a better understanding of the life history of these species their stage compos itions, gonad maturities, and lipid contents were determined. These da ta revealed remarkable interspecific variations and suggest different life-cycle strategies for the three species. (C) 1995 International Co uncil for the Exploration of the Sea