Dead zooplankton were found in grab samples collected in Kongsfjorden
(79 degrees N, Svalbard archipelago) in summer of 1995 and 1996. The c
oncentration of dead plankters reached over 500 individuals of copepod
s and 130 individuals of Themisto per square metre. The biomass of dea
d zooplankton reached 0.17 g C m(-2) locally, and was not correlated w
ith the depth of the locality nor with the surface salinity. The bulk
of sedimented plankton was, however, found behind the sill of the inne
r fjord basin. We assume that massive discharge of glacial waters in s
ummer causes mass mortality of surface zooplankton, which drift away a
nd sink in the inner fjord pool, thus supplying benthic communities wi
th organic carbon.