Abstract
SUMMARY: This paper comprises the decapod crustacean material collected during the “Victor Hensen” campaign 1994 and during the last phase of “Polarstern” cruise ANT XIII/4 in 1996. Sampling covered waters of medium and greater depth in the Straits of Magellan, the channels towards the south, and the area south of the Beagle Channel including the northern slope of the Drake Passage. 30 species of decapods were found, which is considered a good result taking into account that the species restricted to the intertidal and the upper subtidal, which were not subject of this study, are missing. Anomurans were the dominant group, followed by brachyurans and caridean shrimps. Additionally one palinuran (Stereomastis suhmi; n=8) and a single specimen of the astacuran Thymops birsteini were found. Dominance patterns changed considerably from the Straits of Magellan to the channel system south of the Strait, and again to the area south of the Beagle and the northern slope of the Drake Passage. Among the top dominants were the galatheid Munida spp., which in the southernmost area numerically contributes >90% to the catches, the brachyuran crabs Peltarion spinosulum and Eurypodius latreillii, the hermit crab Pagurus comptus, and the caridean shrimps Austropandalus grayi and Pasiphaea acutifrons. Munida spp. and P. spinosulum also revealed the highest frequency of occurrence at 49% and 45% of the stations, respectively, followed by E. latreillii, P. comptus, and A. grayi. Regional and bathymetric distribution of the principal species are given. The depth range of some species was found to be very wide (Campylonotus semistriatus, Munida spp., E. latreillii, P. spinosulum) whereas others were restricted to relatively shallow waters (Pagurus gaudichaudii, Lithodes santolla, Campylonotus vagans, A. grayi) or great depth (Nematocarcinus lanceopes, Stereomastis suhmi). It should be mentioned, however, that sampling depths differed greatly in the areas of study. Contrary to the Antarctic, the Magellan region reveals a strong dominance of reptant decapods whereas caridean shrimps play a minor role in that region. This dominance pattern is valid even for the southernmost areas of the region. The northern slope of the Drake Passage is characterized by a mixture of cold-temperate and Antarctic elements which make it a transitional area between the two continents.
Highlights
The distribution of decapod crustaceans in the numerous channels and fjords, which form the southern tip of the South American continent, was poorly known until some years ago
The depth range of some species was found to be very wide (Campylonotus semistriatus, Munida spp., E. latreillii, P. spinosulum) whereas others were restricted to relatively shallow waters
The purpose of the present study is to describe in more detail the species composition and distribution patterns between the Strait of Magellan and Cape
Summary
The distribution of decapod crustaceans in the numerous channels and fjords, which form the southern tip of the South American continent, was poorly known until some years ago. 1951), which provided the more recent base of information on the Chilean decapod fauna Brattström and Johanssen, 1983), only few occasional samples were taken in the area between 42°. Both the species inventory and the distribution of selected decapod groups have been actualized recently (Retamal and Soto 1993, 1995; Wehrtmann and Carvacho 1997), and Boschi et al (1992). Have summarized the present knowledge regarding the faunal composition and distribution of decapod crustaceans along the Atlantic Patagonian coast. These studies either focused on selected groups, or were restricted to certain sectors of our area of study
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