Biogeography Of Lanternfishes (myctophidae) South Of 30s (antarctic Research Series)

About The Product Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Antarctic Research Series . A total of 84 nominal species of lanternfishes (Myctophidae) occur in the southern hemisphere south of 30°S. The distributions of these species have been analyzed in relation to the hydrology of the area. Antarctic/ Antarctic polar front, subantarctic, transitional water, and warm water lanternfish complexes, each reflecting a pattern of distribution associated with major hydrographic phenomena, have been defined and discussed. It is concluded that systems of oceanic circulation, as well as vertical distribution and inherited tolerances of these fishes to environmental variables, are important in determining their distribution. Endemic genera have been shown to occur in Antarctic-subantarctic, southern transitional, cold north Pacific, and warm water regions of the World Ocean. A consideration of paleontological and paleoceanographic literature leads to the hypothesis that conditions conducive to the evolution of these genera existed in the Oligocene era, the family achieving its present level of generic differentiation by the Miocene era. It is suggested that recent lanternfish complexes evolved from early Tertiary faunas during the marked climatic and oceanographic fluctuations of the Pliocene and Pleistocene eras. Content: About The ProductPublished by the American Geophysical Union as part of the __Antarctic Research Series__. A total of 84 nominal species of lanternfishes (Myctophidae) occur in the southern hemisphere south of 30°S. The distributions of these species have been analyzed in relation to the hydrology of the area. Antarctic/ Antarctic polar front, subantarctic, transitional water, and warm water lanternfish complexes, each reflecting a pattern of distribution associated with major hydrographic phenomena, have been defined and discussed. It is concluded that systems of oceanic circulation, as well as vertical distribution and inherited tolerances of these fishes to environmental variables, are important in determining their distribution. Endemic genera have been shown to occur in Antarctic-subantarctic, southern transitional, cold north Pacific, and warm water regions of the World Ocean. A consideration of paleontological and paleoceanographic literature leads to the hypothesis that conditions conducive to the evolution of these genera existed in the Oligocene era, the family achieving its present level of generic differentiation by the Miocene era. It is suggested that recent lanternfish complexes evolved from early Tertiary faunas during the marked climatic and oceanographic fluctuations of the Pliocene and Pleistocene eras. Content: Title Page ......Page 3 Copyright ......Page 4 The Antarctic Research Series: Statement of Objectives ......Page 5 Contents ......Page 6 Acknowledgements ......Page 8 Abstract ......Page 9 Introduction......Page 10 Materials and Methods......Page 12 Description of the Study Area......Page 13 Species Account......Page 19 Summary of Distributions......Page 75 Patterns of Distribution......Page 77 Biogeography......Page 80 Summary......Page 94 Appendix 1. List of Material Examined......Page 95 Appendix 2. Species Involved in Patterns of Distribution......Page 111 References......Page 112