Distribution of zooplankton in the southern Caspian Sea

Abstract

The zooplanktons were studied in spring, autumn and winter in the southern Caspian Sea in 1996. Sampling carried out in four season. In each season, 180 specimens were identified and their frequency calculated per m3. 55 species of zooplanktons were identified including 55% Cladocera, 15% Copepoda and 11 % Rotatoria, 9% other groups such as meroplanktons. The maximum species diversity was observed for Cladocera and the maximum frequency were observed for Copepoda. The Copepoda affected on abundance of zooplanktons as this frequency included in spring, summer, autumn and winter that were 38% to 97%, 22% to 92%, 71 % to 99% and 31 % to 92%, respectively. In summer, the Copepoda and lamellibranchiata larvae had main role in formation of zooplankton population in western region of the southern Caspian Sea, but in autumn, 70% of zooplankton population were copepods. The frequency of zooplanktons in spring, summer, autumn and winter were calculated 4081 to 20143; 7812 to 65741; 10850 to 34406 and 4510 to 20576 ind./m3, respectively. The maximum biomass was observed during summer with 200 mg/m3.