Barents Sea Plankton Data

Macroplankton were surveyed in winter when all age groups of Euphausiacea are concentrated in the near bottom layers and can be sampled using one set of fishing gear. The net (gauze #140, opening size 50cm) was fastened on the headline of a fishing trawl. The net was used to fish macroplankton in the horizontal regime 6-10m from the bottom at 2.5 n.miles/hr, filtering 1000m3 of water.

All materials obtained are annually processed, recorded on special forms together with the data on sampling conditions and abiotic factors and stored in the PINRO Laboratory of Marine Biology. In the laboratory, samples are examined with a binocular microscope at 2x8 magnification and copepods are counted in the random camera. The samples are statistically and graphically processed.

The objective of this work is to reveal the regularities of formation of the Barents Sea Plankton community and to investigate its role in water trophicity. The activities include investigations of interannual dynamics of plankton related to advection of Atlantic waters and consumption of plankton. The results of these theoretical investigations are used by PINRO in order to determine future food supply for different fishes and serve as a prognostic predictor in fisheries forecasting.