Zooplankton ecology of the Bahuda estuary (Orissa), east coast of India

Abstract

Ecology of zooplankton in Bahuda estuary, a shallow tidal estuary situated along the south Orissa coast, was investigated during December 1990-November 1992. Zooplankton volume, density, species composition and the relative abundance of major constituents showed well marked seasonal variations. The annual cycle showed bimodal oscillations with a major

peak during May/June and secondary peak in November. The distribution of zooplankton was significantly influenced by variations in salinity. A total of 100 species of holoplankton and 7 meroplankton were encountered. Copepods constituted the most dominant group. They were represented by 58 species belonging to 32 genera of 25 families. Tintinnids formed the second richest group comprising 23 species. The other major holoplankters were ostracods. lucifers, amphipods, decapods, cladocerans, siphonophores, chaetognaths, dolioloids and salps. The monsoon season crop was represented by a mixture of

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;="" mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">some oligo-stenohaline, limnetic and euryhaline forms.</span>