Zooplankton characteristics of the coastal ecosystem off Bombay, India

Abstract

The nearshore waters of Bombay sustain a rich and diverse zooplankton fauna. Continuous observations for a period of 15 months indicated a variation from 0.4 to 19.9 mg C.m sup(3) (av. 4.3 mg C.m sup(-3)) in zooplankton biomass. The zooplankton production peak was found during the postmonsoon period of October to January following the unusually high phytoplankton production of the monsoon period (June to September, av. cell count 729 x 10 sup(3).l sup(-1)). Of the forty two species, Acartia spinicauda) dominated the copepod community. Four species of chaetognaths were found in the area with predominance of Sagitta bedoti. Among the penaeid larvae Metapenaeus offinis was the most common species. Population of omnivores dominated the zooplankton community. On an average the percentage contributions of omnivores, herbivores and carnivores were respectively 69, 20 and 11. The zooplankton community appears to be partially influenced by the high fluxes of anthropogenic pollutants reaching the coastal waters from the interior creek system