Standing stock and biochemical composition of zooplankton in the northeastern Arabian Sea

Abstract

During November-December 1985 - a period of this study showed significant difference in biomass (dry weight) among the coastal and oceanic waters. Ostracods were the predominant component (47 per cent) in the coastal zone whereas copepods generally dominated (64 per cent) in the oceanic zone. Protein was the principal biochemical component with an average value of 44.49 per cent in the coastal zooplankton and 38.1 per cent in the oceanic zooplankton suggesting that protein, in addition to lipid, may function as a reserve food in tropical zooplankton. Lipid, carbohydrate, ash, carbon and calorific content did not show much variation. Standing crop was estimated as 352.13 mgC.m super(2) for the upper 50m column of the coastal region, 716.82 mgC.M super(2) for the upper 200 m column of the oceanic region and 3.44x10 super(5) tonnes carbon for the entire study area. This study indicates that the coastal region is more productive than oceanic region.