On species composition and distribution of lanternfish larvae (Myctophidae) in the eastern South Pacific

The results of the study of species composition and distribution of lanternfish larvae (Myctophidae) in July through September of 1980 in open waters of the eastern South Pacific in areas situated beyond the 200-mile zones of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile are provided. In collections of ichthyoplankton from this region, larvae of 19 taxonomic forms of myctophids were found, of which the eastern Pacific endemic Diogenichthys laternatus ranked first by numbers and frequency of occurrence. Specific features of distribution of larvae of the most abundant species were considered, and the map of the total distribution density of larvae of all species of myctophids in the study area was compiled. It was found that their highest concentrations were recorded in the zone of the equatorial front in the north of the region near the boundary with the 200-mile zone near the Galapagos Islands, and that these aggregations consisted mainly of larval D. laternatus. Large concentrations of larval myctophids were attributed to strong convergent zones. Based on collected materials, the tentative value of total numbers of larval myctophids during the survey was calculated.