The Structure of the Zooplankton Community in Spitsbergen Waters during the Winter Period

Abstract

The plankton community was collected during the winter season from the Isfjord aquatic area, on the western coast of Spitsbergen Island, during the interval November 30 to December 6, 2015. Sampling was carried out with a plankton net and bathometric catches on board of the research vessel Dalnie Zelentsy. The assemblages of micro- and mesoplankton from several aquatic areas of the central part of Isfjord have been studied qua-litatively and quantitatively. These areas contain waters with different hydrological structures. We noted that the number of nauplii of small copepods in samples varied significantly depending on sampling method. The main emphasis of this research is placed on the methodology of plankton study in the Arctic waters during winter seasons.