1.
1. Females, copepodid stages V and IV of Calanus finmarchicus were collected in Fram Strait area of the Arctic and in the northern North Sea to compare their lipid composition.
2.
2. For the comparison only copepods were considered which contained more than 8% of 18:4 fatty acid and high amounts of wax esters to exclude seasonal and spatial variabilities and different reproductive status of females.
3.
3. Animals are heavier in the Fram Strait area than in the North Sea with similar lipid proportion of dry weight and wax ester proportion of total lipid.
4.
4. Only some statistical significant differences exist between the fatty acid and alcohol compositions. The levels of 16:0 acid and alcohol and of 22:1 alcohol are higher and of 20:1 acid and alcohol are lower in the North Sea than in the Arctic.
