Species associations of calanoid copepods in an estuary

Abstract

Spatial and temporal changes in the species associations and species diversity of calanoid copepods in the estuary from Cochin to Alleppey are discussed. Mean diversity levels indicate higher alpha values at the mouth region of the estuary and during the high saline, relatively more stable premonsoon period. The index shows that the estuary is poorly inhabited during the low saline period and thus has a low efficiency in the utilization of the biotope. Complete co-existence is exhibited by some species while some are negatively correlated or correlated only either over space or time.