Summer distribution and abundance of larval and juvenile fishes in the western Ross Sea

Ichthyoplankton samples were collected during the November-December 1994 It alian Antarctic Oceanographic Cruise carried out to the western Boss Sea. A midwater trawl (Hamburg Plankton Net) was used to collect samples at 26 st ations. Larval and juvenile specimens of 21 species belonging to six famili es (Artedidraconidae, Bathydraconidae, Channichthyidae, Macrouridae, Nototh eniidae and Paralepididae) were caught from surface to 380 m depth. Mean re lative abundance of larval fish in the whole area was about 2.7 specimens 1 000 m(-3) of filtered water. Pleuragramma antarcticum were the most abundan t as postlarvae and juveniles. Larval and postlarval specimens of Chionodra co myersi were also abundant and widespread. The high number of Trematomus lepidorhinus (570 larvae) found in a single station off Terra Nova Bay (74 degrees 48'75 "S, 164 degrees 36'90"E) was noteworthy. Our data demonstrate that the species diversity of the larval fish community in the western Ros s Sea is much as found elsewhere in the Antarctic and show a greater abunda nce of fish larvae in inshore than in offshore waters.