THE WHITE SEA 



197 



Fig. 87. Near-bottom isotherms of the White Sea 

 and the distribution in it of the starfish Asterias lincki 

 and ophiure Ophiopholis aculeata (Schorygin, 1926). 



littoral, boreal forms predominate markedly. With increase of depth the 

 number of Arctic forms becomes greater and greater, and finally the deep 

 parts of the Sea are inhabited by fauna of a pronounced high Arctic character 

 {Table 85). 



As we have shown, the mass form of zooplankton in the surface layer is 

 Calanus finmarchicus, while Metridia longa lives in masses in the depths. 

 A comparison of the distribution of two echinoderms, the Arctic-boreal 

 Ophiopholis aculeata and the cold-living starfish Asterias lincki, is even more 

 significant (Fig. 87). 



Table 85. Relationship of different zoogeographical groups in the bottom fauna of 

 the White Sea as percentages of the total fauna 



Zoogeograph ical 

 groups 



Littoral 



Pseudo-abyssal 



Total number of species 



43 



41-53 



6-97 



1000 



00 



00 



15-3 



13-3 



250 



29 



5-7 



7-7 



40 



52 



00 



540 



1000 





