Ecology of <i>Pleuromamma indica </i> Wolfenden (Copepoda-Calanoida) in the Indian Ocean

Abstract

<i>P. indica </i>was the only species among the 7 species of the genus, recorded in the area, to be present in 2 restricted areas, one near the mouth of the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea and the other in the Bay of Bengal. High productivity, strong oxygen minimum above 500 m depth and a wide range of salinity varying from 32 x 10^-3 in Bay of Bengal to more than 37 x 10^-3in the northern Arabian Sea were charactenstics of the study area. <i>P. indica </i>showed a positive correlation with salinity and phosphate and a negative relationship with dissolved oxygen. The species was significantly positively correlated (<i>P</i> <img src='http://www.niscair.res.in/jinfo/lessequals.gif' border=0> 0.001 )with salinity and phosphate. Size differences and distribution of the species are discussed.