Preface
The Antarctic fish fauna has evolved over a long period of geographic and
climatic isolation. In the course of this evolution, Antarctic fish have
developed specialized adaptations, some of which characterize these
organisms as unique. In strong contrast to the continental shelf faunas
elsewhere, the Antarctic shelf ichthyofauna is dominated by a single
highly endemic group, the Notothenioidei. This group of perciform fish
probably first appeared and diversified in the early Tertiary. The
development of the Polar Front (referred to as the Antarctic Convergence
in the older literature) resulted in a natural oceanographic barrier to
migration in either direction, and thus became a key factor in the evolution
of Antarctic fish.
The dominance of the Antarctic continental shelf fauna by a single
taxonomic group of fish provides a simplified natural laboratory for
exploring the wealth of physiological, biochemical and ecological
adaptations that characterize the fauna. Understanding of the patterns of
adaptation in this highly specialized group of fish can tell us much about
the process of evolution.
In the past 20 years Antarctic fish have become the focus of a large and
varied research programme by scientists from many nations. Topics have
included morphology, ecology, population dynamics, biochemistry,
physiology, genetics and molecular phylogeny. Most of this research has
been undertaken on an individual basis, but there has been an increasing
realisation that the difficulties of working in Antarctica and the isolation
of the few laboratories on the continent mean that international
collaboration is important. Such cooperation strengthens the efforts of
individuals and small research groups with a well coordinated
multinational and multidisciplinary scientific framework.
A significant step in this direction was taken in 1993 when the European
Science Foundation launched the 3-year Network "Fishes of the Antarctic
Ocean." This Network linked all of the European countries engaged in
scientific research on Antarctic fish, but contact was also extended to
nonEuropean scientists and especially those from the USA, New Zealand
and the former Soviet Union. This Network has facilitated exchanges of
ideas and also helped the planning of collaborative research. Existing
interactions have been strengthened, with new cooperation established and
significant exchange of younger scientists between European laboratories.
Of particular importance have been the annual workshops on selected
scientific themes.
The Antarctic fish fauna has evolved over a long period of geographic and
climatic isolation. In the course of this evolution, Antarctic fish have
developed specialized adaptations, some of which characterize these
organisms as unique. In strong contrast to the continental shelf faunas
elsewhere, the Antarctic shelf ichthyofauna is dominated by a single
highly endemic group, the Notothenioidei. This group of perciform fish
probably first appeared and diversified in the early Tertiary. The
development of the Polar Front (referred to as the Antarctic Convergence
in the older literature) resulted in a natural oceanographic barrier to
migration in either direction, and thus became a key factor in the evolution
of Antarctic fish.
The dominance of the Antarctic continental shelf fauna by a single
taxonomic group of fish provides a simplified natural laboratory for
exploring the wealth of physiological, biochemical and ecological
adaptations that characterize the fauna. Understanding of the patterns of
adaptation in this highly specialized group of fish can tell us much about
the process of evolution.
In the past 20 years Antarctic fish have become the focus of a large and
varied research programme by scientists from many nations. Topics have
included morphology, ecology, population dynamics, biochemistry,
physiology, genetics and molecular phylogeny. Most of this research has
been undertaken on an individual basis, but there has been an increasing
realisation that the difficulties of working in Antarctica and the isolation
of the few laboratories on the continent mean that international
collaboration is important. Such cooperation strengthens the efforts of
individuals and small research groups with a well coordinated
multinational and multidisciplinary scientific framework.
A significant step in this direction was taken in 1993 when the European
Science Foundation launched the 3-year Network "Fishes of the Antarctic
Ocean." This Network linked all of the European countries engaged in
scientific research on Antarctic fish, but contact was also extended to
nonEuropean scientists and especially those from the USA, New Zealand
and the former Soviet Union. This Network has facilitated exchanges of
ideas and also helped the planning of collaborative research. Existing
interactions have been strengthened, with new cooperation established and
significant exchange of younger scientists between European laboratories.
Of particular importance have been the annual workshops on selected
scientific themes.