Whole Curonian Lagoon in the southeast Baltic Sea during the period 1979-1992 (data set limits: 54 54 - 55 44N; 20 37 - 21 16E); Northern part of the Curonian Lagoon since 1993 (data set limits: 55 16 - 55 44N; 21 01 - 21 17E)

Zoobenthos non taxonomy-related wet weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related wet weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Zoobenthos generic abundance

Benthos samplers; optical microscopes

The aim of the research is to evaluate the state of macrozoobenthos of the Curonian Lagoon. Macrozoobenthos is one of the most important hydrobiological parameters of marine environmental monitoring programme, which influences the feeding base of fish and reflects the ecological state of a water basin. Main objectives of the research: to monitor the spatial variability in species composition, abundance and biomass within the research area as well as to evaluate long-term variations in macrozoobenthos. In accordance with the national Curonian Lagoon monitoring programme macrozoobenthos sampling from 1979 to 1992 was carried out twice a year (except 1979-1980 and 1981 respectively once and three times a year) in a wide net of stations in the whole Curonian Lagoon by the expedition cutter 'Gintaras'. Since 1993 the research has been carried out once a year in the north part of the Lagoon which belongs to Lithuania. Methods according to HELCOM (1997) and 'Manual for biological analyses methods of sea water and sediments data (1980)' were used. The data are fully quality controlled. Systematic certification of laboratories, participation in international intercalibrations, internal control, introduced managing system for research' quality determine quality of data. All data is stored in archive (written form) and the data from 1993 also is saved on hard disk.

Department of Marine Research of the Environmental Protection Agency
Taikos Av. 26
Klaipeda

LT-91149
Lithuania