| Summary: | In 61 samples collected in August 1988 in the upper 50 m of the Barents Sea the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a, dinoflagellates, tintinnids, microcrustaceans and fecal pellets did not show clear associations with the physical vertical structure of the waters involved. Tintinnid concentrations ranged between < 1 and 314 ind/1, with an average of 46 ind/1 for the 0-50 m layer. Mean organic carbon estimated per individual ranged from 1200 pg for the smallest tintinnid species, to 14 000 for the largest one, yielding an average of 0.33 μg C/1 (max: 2.1 μg C/1). At this time of the year tintinnids may consume 0.16-5.0 % (mean: 1.4 %) of total primary production. Tintinnid size was positively correlated with chlorophyll a concentrations, suggesting that food availability enhances lorica growth. In total, nine tintinnid species were recorded; however, only three of these (Acanthostomella norvegica, Ptychocylis obtusa, and Parafavella denticulata) accounted for almost 90 % of all the individuals. © 1991 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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