Opportunities and Techniques of Using the Databases of Tinro «zooplankton of the North Pacific, Okhotsk, Bering, and Chukchi Seas», «nekton Trophology», and «marine Biology»

Abstract

Structure of the databases «Zooplankton…» and «Nekton trophology» is described and some techniques are proposed for nekton studies using these bases in conjunction with the database «Marine Biology». All three databases are regularly updated. The bases «Zooplankton…» and «Nekton trophology» contain raw data on plankton and feeding of nekton collected in the North Pacific and the Okhotsk, Bering and Chukchi Seas in 1984–2018. The «Nekton trofology» database contains information for 97 species of nekton, mostly for mass species (72–78 % of samples belong to 5 most numerous species), and 156 species of prey, including 27 species of Copepoda, 7 species of Euphausiacea, 9 species of Amphipoda, 14 species of Decapoda, 6 species of Coelenterata, 15 species of Cephalopoda, and 60 species of Pisces, other groups of prey are represented by 1–2 species. The data are spatially sorted by biostatistical areas and their sub-areas, in total 64 sub-areas in the Okhotsk Sea, 32 areas in the Bering Sea, 30 areas in the North Pacific, and 5 areas in the Chukchi Sea. Mean depth is determined for each sub-area. Method of spatial distribution mapping is demonstrated with using the sub-areas as integral stations or the 1-degree grid for Surfer software. Technique of regional inventory is explained with summarizing and averaging the data and calculation of various indicators as plankton–nekton ratio, etc. The 1-degree trapeziums are numbered for easier usage. Some useful examples are presented with the author’s comments (showing his personal opinion).