GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FAR EASTERN SEAS 709 



abundance of species in the bathypelagic zone, and a decrease in the number 

 of species in the abyssal. The same phenomenon has been noted by V. Dogjel 

 and V. Reschetnjak (1956) for the Radiolaria, when the greatest specific 

 abundance was at a depth of 200 to 2,000 m. 



Benthos 



The fauna of the littoral and sublittoral. The exceptionally rich flora and fauna 

 of the littoral and sublittoral of the Ocean coast of the Komandorski 

 Islands, of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands have not so far been investi- 

 gated sufficiently. E. F. Gurjanova (1935) has given a colourful description of 

 the littoral fauna of the Komandorski Islands. 



The littoral flora and fauna of the Komandorski Islands are very rich both 

 in numbers and variety. The sea surrounding the islands does not freeze ; its 

 water has an almost oceanic salinity. Even in winter only close inshore and 

 after a storm does the temperature of the surface water fall to —1-2° С ; 

 farther out into the sea it varies from 0-5° to 1-5°, and reaches 9° to 11° in 

 summer. At greater depths the temperature is still 2° to 2-5° even in winter 

 (Gurjanova). Littoral flora and fauna Jive within the 4 m layer, and some 

 individual organisms are considerably nearer to the surface. The tidal zone 

 of the Komandorski Islands is characterized by the irregularities of the tides, 

 as a result of which it may either remain submerged for several days or dry out. 



'The Bering expedition', writes Gurjanova, 'cast up by a storm on the 

 shores of Komandor, found there herds of fur seals, millions strong, thou- 

 sands of sea lions, herds of sea cows and sea otters and thousands of polar 

 foxes. All these large animals fed off the shores of the islands on sea-weeds, 

 invertebrates and fish . . . the bottom of the sea round the islands is over- 

 grown with whole submarine forests of huge sea-weeds. These Macrocystis 

 and Nereocystis sea-weeds, sometimes attaining heights of some dozens of 

 metres (up to 300 m), Alariafistulosa, with a thallus 10 to 12 m long, Lami- 

 naria, Thalassiophyllum, and others, form dense submarine forests, which 

 rise to the surface from depths of 20 or 30 m.' This vegetation has a very rich 

 fauna of invertebrates. The Bering Island littoral is inhabited by 7 species of 

 chiton, 6 species of Anomura, 6 of crabs, 4 of starfish, 2 of sea urchins, 2 of 

 holothurians and a multitude of species of worms, molluscs crustaceans, 

 actinians, bryozoans and ascidians. This fauna is peculiar to the softer soils 

 of the littoral. 'However, the cliffs which rise above the water level', writes 

 Gurjanova, 'beaten by the swell, are also densely inhabited. Thick beds of 

 vigorous Laminaria Jongipes, L. dentigera, Thalassiophyllum clathrum, with 

 their powerful rhizoids, whole carpets of soft, ramified and cortical bryozoans, 

 Porifera and actinians, continuous settlements of the large acorn barnacles 

 Semibalanus cariosus, and complex ascidians, develop intensely on these cliffs, 

 constantly washed by the swell. Red algae, bright red sponges and large 

 chitons rise here from the sublittoral.' Quiet coves with sandy bottoms have 

 columns of the polychaetes Schizobranchus insignis, and large gastropods, 

 Argobuccinum, spp. and Natica clausa, while the sands are inhabited by a 

 multitude of large-sized Bivalvia — Spisula, Siliqua and Tellina. The Komandor 

 littoral fauna in general has a warm- water aspect, reflected by the variety of its 



