Keywords
diversity
major zooplankton groups
pre-monsoon
How to Cite
Abstract
A preliminary study was conducted on the occurrence and faunastic composition of zooplankton in two creeks of Port Qasim creek system during January to April 1998 (pre-monsoon season). Total 14 major groups were recorded during the study period. Despite the importance of zooplankton in aquatic food web meager information is available on the assemblage of zooplankton in the port Qasim creek system. Highest mean (%) compositions (38.96) were recorded in copepod at station # 1 and chaetognath (23.95) at station # 2. Copepods, chaetognath and zoea were the major component of zooplanktonic groups at both the stations. The hydrographic parameters such as air temperature (oC), water temperature (oC), salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), pH, and transparency (cm) were recorded on monthly basis. No significance correlation at (P < 0.05) was observed in between zooplankton with hydrographic parameters, locality and months. The number of zooplankton/100m3 found in order at station #1: copepod > chaetognath > zoea > penaeid PL > amphipoda > hydromedusae > caridean PL > fish larvae > lucifer > megalopa > fish eggs > mysids > acetes > squilla larvae. At station # 2: chaetognath > copepod > zoea > mysids > Lucifer > hydromedusae > megalopa > penaeid PL > fish larvae > fish eggs > amphipoda > caridean PL > others > acetes > squilla larvae.
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Copyright (c) 2015 Qadeer Mohammad Ali, Quratulan Ahmed