Spatial distribution of Antarctic shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) by underwater photography

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Gutt, Julian, Gorny, M., Arntz, W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1991
• Subjects: Geology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Oceanography; Antarctic; Weddell Sea; Weddell; Antarc*; Antarctic Science; antarcticus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102091000469; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102091000469

Three species of shrimps ( Notocrangon antarcticus, Chorismus antarcticus, Nematocarcinus lanceopes ) were investigated in the south-eastern Weddell Sea using of underwater photography. Maximum densities of c. 100 specimens per 100 m 2 were found for N. antarcticus on the continental shelf (200–600 m) and for N. lanceopes on the slope (800–1200 m). Small-scale dispersion patterns and size-frequency distributions were analyzed within dense concentrations. These direct observations indicate that the behaviour of the three species is adapted to different habitats with Chorismus distribution correlated with that of sponges and Notocrangon with base sediment.