Ecological investigations on the zooplankton community of Balsfjorden, northern Norway

Eggs and larvae of benthic and pelagic marine organisms were present in zooplankton hauls during all months of the year. The diversity and quantity of larvae were low during the winter months. Increasing numbers of species were noted during early spring and through summer, consistent with the fact that most planktonic larvae are dependent on the phytoplankton production as a food source. Winter-breeding species developed via relatively large, lecithotrophic eggs.