Spatial heterogeneity of zooplankton abundance and diversity in the Saudi coastal waters of the Southern Red Sea

Abstract

Zooplankton distribution, abundance and diversity were studied at 50 stations from 3 different locations along the southern coast of Saudi Red Sea between 16º 31ʹ N and 20º 16ʹ N. Zooplankton standing crop fluctuated between 1,058 and 25,787 individuals m-3 with an average of 5230 ind. m-3. Zooplankton community was dominated by holoplanktonic forms representing 80.95% of the total zooplankton, while meroplanktonic forms constituted 19.05%. Zooplankton was generally dominated by copepods which contributed about 69.66%. A total of 100 copepods species were recorded in the study area. Copepod diversity decreased northward (94, 69 and 62 species at Farasan, Al-Quonfidah and Al-Lith, respectively). Adult cyclopoid copepods dominated the zooplankton community in term of abundance and species number (19.55%, 65 species) with a dominance of Oncaea media, Oithona similis and Farranula carinata.