Macrozooplankton in the Kara Sea: Reply to Dolgov and Prokopchuk (2018)

In reply to the Comment by Dolgov and Prokopchuk (2018), we explain plankton terminology used to describe macrozooplankton organisms in our study. Our approach is based on definition that macroplankton includes animals with size >1 mm instead of a classification that macrozooplankton are large organisms with length >2 cm to provide a detailed picture of distribution patterns and community structure of zooplankton in poorly investigated areas of the Russian Arctic. We also discuss sampling methodology to collect macroplankton and limitations of different sampling gears in catching large planktonic animals. We stated that the IKS-80 net is an appropriate sampling device for the aims of the study. We provided new data on macrozooplancton diversity and community structure and our sampling gird covered more than 25% of the total area of the Kara Sea unlike previous studies. From these points of view our paper may be considered as a pioneer work. We also pointed out that used mainly the literature sources available for reviewers and international readers and that description the history of Russian/Soviet investigations in the Kara Sea was out of the aim of our paper.