First of all

　 In order to elucidate the material cycle of the ocean, taking into account the life history and activity capacity of zooplankton communities, it is necessary to capture their distribution with high spatio-temporal resolution. Therefore, a multi-level plankton net has been developed that can continuously collect plankton samples from multiple depth ranges. The VMPS (Vertical Multiple opening and closing Plankton Sampler) was developed specifically for continuous vertical sampling, The VMPS is equipped with several plankton nets, which can be opened and closed in sequence during towing to collect plankton communities by layer. The VMPS is smaller and lighter than typical multistage retractable nets such as the MOCNESS and BIONESS, making it easier to handle. VMPS is a domestically produced observation device developed by Dr. Makoto Terasaki (Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo) in collaboration with a domestic manufacturer. This section describes (1) the configuration of VMPS, (2) the net opening and closing mechanism, and (3) an overview of the collection process.

[Open Access] Terazaki & Tomatsu, 1997,  J. Adv. Mar. Sci. Tech. Soci.

図1　VMPS underwater station