total biomass for the Sea of approximately 12 million tons. This is also approxi- 

 mately the amount of total annual benthos production. 



The change of benthos biomass with depth off the Caucasian coast shows 

 an increase at depths of 10 to 50 m, i.e. on the shell gravel and mussel-mud 

 {Table 186). 



As shown by Table 186 the largest number of benthos specimens is observed 

 on mussel beds (50 to 100 m deep) and the largest biomass on the shell gravel 

 (10 to 50 m). The number of molluscs and crustaceans invariably decreases 

 with depth, while the number of worms increases. 



