cent of that in the Southern Caspian. Limnocalanus grimaldi should be con- 

 sidered as the dominant form of Copepoda (92-6 to 36-4 per cent of the total 

 Central Caspian biomass and 49 per cent of the Southern Caspian). In the 

 100 to 200 m layer Mysidae become significant (15-8 to 31 per cent in the 

 Central Caspian, 25 per cent in the Southern Caspian) ; Copepoda, however, 

 remain the dominant form. Below 200 m Mysidae become the dominant form 

 in the Central Caspian (86 per cent); their specific weight increases in the 

 Southern Caspian (39-8 per cent). Mysis microphthalma, M. amblyops and 

 Par amy sis (Austromysis) loxolepsis are the most numerous deep-water Mysidae. 



The horizontal distribution of zooplankton biomass within the to 100 m 

 layer is not uniform. The deep middle part of the Central Caspian and the 

 Apsheron ridge are the richest zooplankton areas in the spring. The biomass 

 there may exceed 200 mg/m 3 . The poorest area is the northern part of the 

 Central Caspian (less than 25 mg/m 3 ). As a rule the shallows are poorer in 

 zooplankton population than the deeper parts (Fig. 284). 



Zooplankton composition in different areas of the Sea also varies. In the 

 middle parts of the Central and Southern Caspian Limnocalanus grimaldi is 

 predominant; next come, in lesser numbers, Mysidae and Cladocera. The 

 relationships of planktons are approximately the same as in the eastern 

 coastal zone. In the western coastal zone fairly considerable numbers of 



