Observations on the Isopod Mesidotea entomon in the Western Canadian Arctic Ocean

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: McCrimmon, Hugh, Bray, Joseph
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1962
• Subjects: General Medicine; Arctic; Arctic Ocean
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f62-027; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f62-027

The collection of Mesidotea entomon (Linnaeus) during the 1960 cruise of the Salvelinus in the western Canadian Arctic ocean has expanded the recorded distribution of the species. Population densities were highest in mud-bottomed areas where water temperatures ranged from −1.3 to +10.0 °C. No specimens were collected at depths greater than 24 fathoms (44 m). Sexual dimorphism of M. entomon became apparent at lengths of 25 mm, males reaching a larger size than females at maturity in the second year of life. The majority of the population apparently died after reproducing once.