To find out the changes in vertical distribution patterns over the 24-h period, a key and the first step to tackle the problem of adaptive significance of diel vertical migration (DVM), vertically stratified time series samplings with multiple opening/closing plankton samplers were done in the East Sea of Korea (Sea of Japan). Sampling was done almost every 4 h for one day period following the same water parcel in Nov. 1995 and May 1996, respectively. Resultant patterns of vertical distribution showed that some species such as most abundant taxa Metridia pacifica and Scolecithyicella minor, both Copepoda, performed DVM even in the study area of strong thermal stratification. Their patterns of DVM such as distance scales and timing of movements were not the same each other, and they were separated from other taxa in the dendrogram obtained by the cluster analyses, Most minor taxa grouped in one, however, seemed not to do DVM in the study area of strong thermal stratification. They usually preferred the warmer surface layer where the foods were probably more abundant.