Matched filter NIR laser optical video systems,as developed by Strickler,have been mostly used in laboratories to study live copepod behaviors.In situ,optical systems have been deployed to observe abundance and spatial distribution of zooplankton species.However,only few underwater observations longer than a few seconds have been made on the behaviors of zooplankters.Although we encountered extremely difficulties in deploying our underwater laser system several pilot studies were carried out in Taiwan since 1993.We have used the Ocean Research Vessel Ⅱ of the NSC,Taiwan,to conduct the UW observations in the waters off the island Keelung,near the inlet and out waters of Nuclear Power Plant Ⅱ,on the coral reefs in the northern Taiwan,and main stream of Kuroshio currents.All these studies unfortunately resulted in little useful data due to the rough weather,strong currents,a typhoon,and basic technological difficulties with drag on the structures of a very sensitive optical system.During a further deployment on the coral reef within the inlet waters of the nuclear power plant Ⅲat Kentin,southern Taiwan,we successfully videotaped small scale copepod activities in the surrounding waters of corals.