Age, Growth and Maximum Size of Antarctic Notothenioid Fish - Revisited
35
winter [7,9,36]. Although observations on a high level of feeding intensity
in winter appear to be contradictory to predictions from energy
requirements, the change to other prey organisms in winter with a lower
energy content and a resulting lower energy intake at the same level of
feeding may partly resolve this contradiction [32].
A considerable increase in the proportion of empty stomachs and a
reduction in feeding, however, has been observed in the prespawning and
spawning period of a number of species, such as L. larseni, C. gunnari, N
rossii, N coriiceps, and Trematomus eulepidotus [1,7,18].
Maximum Size
Notothenioids are predominantly small species up to 45 cm in length (Fig.
2). Among the lesser-Antarctic/subAntarctic notothenioids about 45%
attain sizes of more than 45 cm, wherereas in the high-Antarctic Zone
90% of the notothenioids are less than 45 cm long and 65% do not grow
larger than 30 cm (Fig. 2).
Harpagiferids and artedidraconids (with the exception of some of the
Pogonophryne species, which grow up to 25-30 cm) are typically less than
15 cm long. Bathydraconids (apart from Cygnodraco mawsoni and
Parachaenichthys species which attain up to 50-60 cm) hardly exceed 30
cm. Most nototheniids do not grow larger than 45 cm. However, the
50
40
Lesser Antarctic/
Sub-Antarctic Zone
n:30
•
Notolhenlldae
- Harpagifendae
t=' _ Artedldracomdae
70
60
50
~
;:40
o
c:
CD
:lao
g
l.i:
20
High-Antarctic
Zone
0=60
o - . j
~15cm s30Cm
Scm >4Scm
•
Balhydraconldae
ChsnnlchlhYldse
Fig. 2. Maximum lengths observed in notothenioid families from lesser-Antarctic/subAntarctic waters and high-Antarctic waters (from [1])
35
winter [7,9,36]. Although observations on a high level of feeding intensity
in winter appear to be contradictory to predictions from energy
requirements, the change to other prey organisms in winter with a lower
energy content and a resulting lower energy intake at the same level of
feeding may partly resolve this contradiction [32].
A considerable increase in the proportion of empty stomachs and a
reduction in feeding, however, has been observed in the prespawning and
spawning period of a number of species, such as L. larseni, C. gunnari, N
rossii, N coriiceps, and Trematomus eulepidotus [1,7,18].
Maximum Size
Notothenioids are predominantly small species up to 45 cm in length (Fig.
2). Among the lesser-Antarctic/subAntarctic notothenioids about 45%
attain sizes of more than 45 cm, wherereas in the high-Antarctic Zone
90% of the notothenioids are less than 45 cm long and 65% do not grow
larger than 30 cm (Fig. 2).
Harpagiferids and artedidraconids (with the exception of some of the
Pogonophryne species, which grow up to 25-30 cm) are typically less than
15 cm long. Bathydraconids (apart from Cygnodraco mawsoni and
Parachaenichthys species which attain up to 50-60 cm) hardly exceed 30
cm. Most nototheniids do not grow larger than 45 cm. However, the
50
40
Lesser Antarctic/
Sub-Antarctic Zone
n:30
•
Notolhenlldae
- Harpagifendae
t=' _ Artedldracomdae
70
60
50
~
;:40
o
c:
CD
:lao
g
l.i:
20
High-Antarctic
Zone
0=60
o - . j
~15cm s30Cm
Scm >4Scm
•
Balhydraconldae
ChsnnlchlhYldse
Fig. 2. Maximum lengths observed in notothenioid families from lesser-Antarctic/subAntarctic waters and high-Antarctic waters (from [1])