EN
Owing to their large numbers, small Calanoida from the Pseudocalanidae family constitute a significant element of zooplankton in seas and oceans. In Croker Passage, which is in the coastal zone of the Antarctic Peninsula, this family is represented by Microcalanus pygmaeus and Ctenocalanus citer. These species are characterized by a distinct seasonal variability in numbers and by the way they inhabit the water column. M. pygmaeus occurs five to six times more frequently than C. citer, and both species are far more abundant in summer than in winter. In summer they occur in the upper part of the mesopelagic zone, while in winter they move to greater depths. However, C. citer occurs more often than M. pygmaeus in the upper layers of the water column, regardless of season.