Distribution of zooplankton biomass in the Barents Sea in autumn 1997

Samples of zooplankton were collected in the Barents Sea during cruise 11 o f R/V Akademik S. Vavilov in September-October 1997. Three different sampli ng methods were used: 30-1 big bottle, Judey net, and BR net. The analysis revealed >40 species of zooplankton. The greatest species diversity occurre d in the zones of junction of waters of different origin. Within the 100-m upper water layer, the zooplankton biomass was rather high: 32 g/m(2) on av erage. The highest biomass was observed in the northeastern part of the reg ion under study and over the shelf of Russkaya Gavan' Bay (Novaya Zemlya Is land). The lowest biomass occurred in the southern part and in the region o f the Gusinaya Bank. The mean autumn value of the zooplankton biomass in th e 100-m upper layer (321 mg/m(3)) slightly exceeded the multiannual average for the summer period (200 mg/m(3)).