LONG-TERM MORPHOMETRIC VARIATIONS IN A POPULATION OF THE DEEP-SEA SHRIMP ARISTEUS-ANTENNATUS (RISSO, 1816) (DECAPODA, ARISTEIDAE)

The objective of this study was to analyze possible morphometric varia tions in the relationship among various measurements of the body parts of Aristeus antennatus, in the course of a long period of time (30 ye ars). The same appendages were measured in the same way and with the s ame precision in 1965 and 1995. To avoid differences caused by sexual dimorphism only females were analyzed. The relative growth of the tail appendages of Aristeus antennatus (telson and external uropod) increa sed. The scaphocerite and the abdomen length remained practically with out change. The length of the articles of the third and fourth pereiop ods did not differ, but the total length of the pereiopods was signifi cantly reduced. The existence of possible morphometric changes in the swimming structures in relation to environmental changes is discussed, especially in relation to the decrease of food resource, and to benth ic disturbance, caused by increasing fishing pressure.