GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANKTON AND BENTHOS DISTRIBUTION IN THE GULF OF TONKIN AND IN AD JOINING AREAS OF THE SOURTH CHINA SEA

Abstract : It is shown that the concentrations of plankton in the northern part of the gulf are preserved throughout the year. This phenomena may be as sociated with the effect of the coastal drainage and the nature of the circulation of the waters (merger zone). The concentrations of plankton in the southwestern part of the gulf is observed only during July-August. It is associated ex clusively with the zone of rising internal waters. The problem regarding the dependence of the quantitative distribution of plankton and benthos is not clear, but the distribution of benthos does not depend on plankton. It is clear that within the boundaries of the south-western summer concentration of plankton there is no perceptible increase in benthos biomass. The dependence of the benthos biomass distribution on coastal drainage appears to be quite clear - maximum biomass is observed in the northern half of the bay where the coastal drainage is most pronounced. (Author)