Seasonal distribution of coastal mesozooplankton community in relation to the environmental factors in İskenderun Bay (north-east Levantine, Mediterranean Sea)

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013-08, Vol.93 (5), p.1163-1174
• Main Authors: Kurt, Tuba Terbiyik, Polat, Sevim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrocalanus gibber; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autumn; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Chemical analysis; Chlorophyll; Cladocera; Coastal waters; Coasts; Community structure; Copepoda; Distribution patterns; Environmental conditions; Environmental factors; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Paracalanus parvus; Penilia avirostris; Plankton; Salinity; Sea water ecosystems; Seasonal distribution; Seasonal variations; Seawater; Software; Spring; Summer; Synecology; Water analysis; Water temperature; Zooplankton
• ISSN: 0025-3154; 1469-7769
• DOI: 10.1017/S0025315412001713

Mesozooplankton was studied during 2008 in coastal waters of the İskenderun Bay in order to determine seasonal changes in abundance, biomass, community structure and their relationship with environmental factors. Samples were collected seasonally at five stations using WP-2 net of 200 µ mesh size by vertical hauls. A total of 23 planktonic groups including 30 copepod species, 4 cladocerans and 4 chaetognaths were identified. Copepods were the most important group during the whole period of survey. Penilia avirostris was found to be dominant in spring, while Paracalanus parvus in summer and winter, and Acrocalanus gibber in autumn. Mesozooplankton abundance varied from 438 ind m−3 (autumn) to 7163 ind m−3 (spring), while biomass varied between 2.2 mg m−3 (summer) and 52.9 mg m−3 (autumn). Differences in abundance and biomass between seasons were statistically significant (P