Pelagic squid associationswith a warm-core eddy of the East Australian Current

Abstract

Cephalopods were sampled at night by midwater trawling in the upper 500 m in and near warm- core eddy F during summer. In all, 29 species (1019 specimens) were caught. Of the five dominant species, the squid Pterygioteuthis giardi and Brachioteuthis riisei were most numerous inside the eddy and Abraliopsis gilchristi and Pterygioteuthis gemmata had length-frequency distributions that were significantly larger outside than inside the eddy. A. gilchristi was also concentrated in warmer water and Pyroteuthis margaritifera was more common at 250 m than at shallower depths. Cluster analysis established a clear association of overall composition and relative abundances of cephalopod species with water temperature and location with respect to the eddy.