AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE ANTARCTIC CALANOID COPEPOD METRIDIA GERLACHEI GIESBRECHT, 1902. ADULT FEMALE

Abstract

The Antarctic environment is a peculiar ecosystem still greatly unpolluted and constitutes a true natural laboratory. In Antarctic waters low temperatures strongly affect the composition and structure of biocenosis and the occurrence of the Antarctic Convergence separates the Southern Ocean from surrounding waters. These characteristics led to the development of endemisms; therefore, the study of morphology, physiology, genetics and biochemical composition of Antarctic species are the basic elements to know their adaptive strate gies and to reconstruct evolutionary events. [...]