title: Biotic balance and biomass assessment of the ocean population.
abstract: In marine ecosystems the destruction and release of chemical pollutants occur mainly due to the activity of their biotic components via the processes of biodifferentiation and biosedimentation. These porcesses determine the assimilative capacity of the oceans and their areas. During the development (succession) of the planktonic community in the euphotic layer of the oceans changes occur of both the quantity of produced organic matter and portion transferred from the community to the deeper layers and in sediments. Waters of different trophicity correspond to different stages of the community's development. Taking into account the areas of waters with different trophicity and the characteristic biomass estimates of the basic structural components of the plankton community, the authors have tried to assess the annual primary production of the oceans. Its total amount makes up 65×10(9) tons C. Certain estimates for phytoplankton, bacterioplankton, microzooplankton and mesozooplankton content were obtained.
authors.affiliation: P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vinogradov
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Shushkina