Abstract
Heterogeneous distribution (i.e. patchiness) has an important of a role being played in earlier survival of eggs and larvae in relation to the encounter frequency of prey and predator. Continuous sampler and/or systems are indispensable to detect the distribution. Continuous sampling is also an important for monitoring of fluctuation of organisms in the ocean. Though some sensors were developed to detect the distribution and fluctuation, it is necessary to collect samples since the sample itself has many valuable information.
Though continuous sampling is also attained by enthusiastic human efforts, automatic continuous plankton sampler is especially valuable in the place to be impossible admittance and human handling.
This automatic continuous plankton sampler was consist of (1) a pump (the inlet opened at ship bottom under 7m from sea surface), (2) a collector of pipe diameter 150mm (50 small nets were changed in order and plankton organisms were preserved by saturated salt water), and (3) a flowmeter (the rotation number of small propeller in the water pass way was counted and recorded), and (4) GPS.
The collector is basically constructed with an acrylic pipe, (a) simple structure and mechanism, (b) compact style, and (c) enclosed type.
The field performances were carried out on ship course of RN “Hakuho-maru” belonged ORl, Univ. of Tokyo. Fish eggs and another plankter patches were detected at some frontal area.
