Abstract:

During the austral summer of 1989/1990 and 1990/1991 net sampling program was carried out in the Prydz Bay region. From these samples, including zooplankton samples by a 80 cm conical net and krill samples by a 6 feet IKMT,the distribution and abundance of larvae and adults of Euphausia crystallorophias studied. Both the larvae and adults of this species occured only in the shelf waters and in the inner margin of slope waters (less than 1000 m in depth ).Larvae density ranged from 70 to 44356 ind./1000m 3,with the highest density being found inside the Prydz Bay. The density of juveniles and adults ranged from 10 to 203 ind./1000m 3,with an average of 57 ind./1000m 3.In 1990,6 larval stages (N1-C3)were found in January,with the MSI (mean stage index) ranged from 4.12 to 5.07. In Feb.-Mar. of the same year they were substituted by C1-F3,with the MSI ranged from 6.98 to 7.81.The larval stage composition indicated that the breeding of this species seemed to start in early November and end in late December.The L/F distribution of juveniles and adults as well as the length-weight relationship were given.