Copepod Swarm in the Campbell Bay (Andaman Sea)

Abstract

During the 68th cruise of R.V.Gaveshani, an unusual abundance of calanoid copepods of family Pontellidae was observed in the Campbell Bay (lat.6 degrees 30'-6 degrees 59'N and long 93 degrees 56'-94 degrees 15'E) Swarm density (25974 to 138420/m 3)forming 91.9 to 96.1 c of the total copepod population and constituted mainly by 4 species of Pontellopsis was recorded The species in order of abundance were Pontella spinipes Giesbrecht Pontellopsis regalis (Dana), Pontella princeps Dana and P.securifer Brady The adaptive significance of copepod swarming is briefly given