VIII
by the topography of the Straits. The faunal assemblages include species that are typical for Antarctic and sub-Antarctic are as, as well as those that are more cosmopolitan.
In other respects, the fauna of the Straits shows major links with the pelagic fauna of
temperate regions.
The Atlas of Marine Zooplankton, Straits of Magellan is an important contribution
to the knowledge of the plankton communities in sub-Antarctic regions. While the
first volume dealt with the taxonomie composition and ecology of the copepods, the
world's most numerous group in the pelagic community, the present volume describes
those groups of pelagic organisms that rank next in abundance: amphipods, ostracods, chaetognaths, euphausiids and mysids. Several of these species reported have
not been previously sampled in this geographic area.
The primary concern of the Atlas is to facilitate and promote future biological studies in the Antarctic by both experts and beginners. Additionally, the handbook provides a broad hasis of knowledge that will equip the reader with a greater
understanding of plankton communities and the biogeography of this sub-Antarctic
region.
Universitat Hamburg
Zoologisches Institut und Museum
Hamburg, Germany
Hans Georg An dres