Winter Zooplankton in a Small Arctic Lake: Abundance and Vertical Distribution

Zooplankton assemblages are of great importance in aquatic food webs because they link lower (microplankton) and higher trophic levels (top predators). Small water bodies the Arctic regions Russia less studied winter severe ice conditions. For this reason, we analyzed zooplankton community Lake Kulonga (western coast Kola Bay, Barents Sea). A total 9 taxa were found samples. The abundance varied from 200 to 1320 ind. m?3, averaging 705 m?3. biomass was 1.8–72.8 mg wet mass m?3 with an average 30 These parameters than other Russian sub-arctic lakes summer. Old copepodites Cyclops spp. dominated at deep-water stations terms consisting 24–33%. copepod Macrocyclops albidus prevailed comprising 30–33% while scutifer had highest shallow stations. Vertical distribution demonstrated different patterns neighboring stations, probably as a result differences density fish predators.