Modified Whirling Apparatus for the Subsampling of Plankton

Abstract

An apparatus for the subsampling of plankton is described. It is shown that the samples obtained conform to the characteristics of a Poisson distribution. Limits to the efficiency of the apparatus are encountered when certain organisms with a tendency to clump together are present in high concentrations, but these limits are well within the accuracy required and achieved with the present methods of collecting plankton; otherwise the accuracy of the apparatus apparently does not vary with different types of organism.