A 160-cm Opening-Closing Plankton Net

Abstract

The paper describes an opening-closing net, 160 cm in mouth diameter and 750 cm in length, and its accessories designed for sampling macroplanktonic and micronektonic animals. Three nets, i.e. ORI-200, ORI-33, and ORI-C, which have completely same profile but are different in their mesh sizes have been successfully used in the Ocean Research Institute. The filtering section of the ORI-200 is made solely of 1.97-mm vinylon fabric netting, while that of the ORI-33 is made of silk netting GG 54, 0.33-mm mesh aperture. The ORI-C is constructed of these two materials. Each can be towed horizontally or obliquely at speed up to 6 knots. The sampler and its accessories are relatively simple and inexpensive in design and construction, and in field operation.