Variation of zooplankton biomass and species composition at Nha Trang marine monitoring station, 2000-2011

Abstract

This study provides data of zooplankton abundance, biomass and diversity patterns in Nha Trang marine monitoring station (Khanh Hoa, Viet Nam). In total 259 zooplankton species had been recorded during the period of 2000 - 2011, Copepods contributed with the largest number of species (135 species), followed by Hydromedusae and Tunicates with 20 species and 18 species, respectively. The average number of zooplankton species was higher in August 2009 with 95 species in comparison with that in February 2002 with 47 species. Average individual density of zooplankton reached to 6,477 ± 5,457 inds.m-3 in August and it was mostly higher than that in February (significant difference with t-test, P = 0.0048). The average value of Shannon – Wiener index (H’) was 2.89 ± 0.27 and highest value in 2009. The value of Pielou index had a same trend with H’ – highest in 2009. In 2010, cumulative dominance (k) of one species ocuppied 40% of total denisty while this value at other stations was around 20%.