Results of the preliminary survey on the coastal distribution of fish larvae in Adelie Land (Southern Ocean) during January-February 1996

A first ichthyoplankton spatial distribution survey was carried out in the coastal zone of Adelie Land in Antarctica in January-February 1996. Thirty three stations were investigated in a bay of 25 km2 surrounded on the southern side by the ice-cliffs of the continent and by the islands of the Pointe Géologie Archipelago on the eastern side. Samples of ichthyoplankton were collected by using a bongo net towed from the surface to near the bottom for depths less than 200 meters. Five species were caught but Pleuragramma antarcticum was dominant comprising 99% of the larval fish captured. A dense swarm of at least 17 individuals.m-3 was detected in the study area but densities were on average lower than 1 individual.m-3. Distribution of the larvae was explained by hydrological features and we believe that a major factor is the development of coastal gyres linked to the topography.