SIZE AND DEPTH DISTRIBUTION OF PELAGIC OR GANISMS IN THE NORTH PACIFIC

On the basis of taxonomic treatment of plankton samples gathered in th e North Pacific during four years, the dependence of the number of pla nktonic organisms (N) on their body weight (W) was investigated at dif ferent depths. This dependence was evaluated as N = N0W-1, where N-0 i s a constant. It follows herefrom, that biomass values are. the same i n equal logarithmic intervals of organism weights. The dependence of t he exponent on depth (in the interval from 0 to 500 m) and on time of the day proved to be very weak. The recurrent diurnal alterations of z ooplankton biomass values are discernible only in the layers 0-10 m an d 0-25 m. At greater depths these oscillations die out abruptly and in the layer 0-100 m the biomass is practically constant.