Zooplankton community of Bhayandar and Thane salt pans around Bombay

Abstract

The zooplankton community of the salt pans of Bhayandar and Thane was studied based on the contribution of microzooplankton and meso-macrozooplankton. Population of microzooplankton was about 4 times more in Bhayandar as compared to Thane salt pan. The protozoan ciliate Fabrea salina dominated the microzooplankton community. The mesomacrozooplankton standing stock was more at Thane (av 1.7 g wet wt/m sup(3)) as compared to Bhayandar (av 1.4 g wet wt/m sup(3)). However, group diversity was more at Bhayandar. A reduction in group diversity to the order of 50% was observed from creek to crystallizer associated with high salinity regime. Copepods were the most abundant group at both the salt pans. Calanoids dominated the Bhayandar salt pan while cyclopoids were predominant at Thane. Decapods and mysids were common in the area. During the monsoon season mysids were dominant in the crystallizer and condenser of Thane. Artemia was observed only at Bhayandar. In general the salt pans sustain a fairly rich zooplankton standing stock with low diversity.