Species composition and abundance of tintinnids and copepods in the Pichavaram mangroves (south India)

Abstract

The annual pattern of distribution and abundance of tintinnids and copepods - taking them as the representatives of the major components of microzooplankton (20 to 200 μm) and mesozooplankton (200 μm to 2 mm), respectively - was studied. For tintinnids, density varied from 60 to 44 990 org./m3. Agglomerated tintinnids were the dominant form. The maximum abundance (80 740 org./m3) of copepods was recorded in the freshwater and neritic water mixing zone during summer and the lowest (80 org./m3) in the freshwater zone. A significant positive relationship between the abundance of tintinnids and copepods was observed. The seasonal distribution and abundance of tintinnids and copepods are discussed in relation to hydrographical parameters. -from Author