February 2012 These creatures were collected by the MAREM (Marmara Environmental Monitoring) Project crew on 7th of August 2011 in the Sea of Marmara (sample location is over the line 40º48´10"N. 027º26´30"E / 40º48´12"N. 027º25´30"E.), at a depth of 800m in the west deep basin, i.e. one of the 3 deep basins in the Sea of Marmara that is located along the North Anatolian Fault.
The water mass in that basin consists of Mediterranean originated high salinity (dense/heavy) water that comes through the Dardanelles. From the high and stabile water temperature under the thermocline –appr. under 50m depth- (14.2˚C all year long) the species diversity of plankton samples are very high. The sample was collected with a Nansen plankton net, 155.00 µm mesh size, 60cm diameter mouth opening. The composition of sampling material was mainly copepoda.
Help with identification is highly appreciated.
Thanks and best regards,
Prof. M. Levent Artüz
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