Zooplankton the Barents Sea

Abstract

A review of the published data on the distribution of biomass of zooplankton and its main groups: mesozooplankton, meroplankton, crustacean macrozooplankton and gelatinous macrozooplankton in the Barents Sea is presented. The factors that determine the amplitude and direction of interannual changes in the abundance of zooplankton are considered. The results of studies on the role of zooplankton in biotransformation and vertical flux of organic matter are presented. The data on the possible effect of warming climate on the Barents Sea ecosystem is analyzed.