Zooplankton ecology of the mangrove habitats of Goa

Abstract

Zooplankton community of the fringing mangroves along the upper reaches of Mandovi and Zuari estuaries, Goa, India was studied. The mangrove ecosystem is rather a harsh one for plankton owing to combination of periodic fluctuations and extremes of its physico-chemical parameters, water depth, turbidity, tidal amplitude and organic matter. Zooplankton standing stock (biomass) values in mangroves were low as compared to contiguous estuarine and neritic biotopes. Micro-zooplankton, crustaceans and fish larvae constituted bulk of zooplankton. Majority of these organisms were stragglers. The zooplankters showing better eco-physiological adaptations colonized in pools surroundEd. by thick mangroves vegetation