Environmental Factors and Variation Characteristics of Zooplankton Communities in Gamak Bay

• Published in: Ocean and polar research Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 79 - 94
• Main Authors: Moon, SY, Yoon, H S, Soh, HY, Choi, S D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 01.06.2006
• Subjects: Acartia; Eurytemora pacifica; Paracalanus parvus; Podon polyphemoides; INW, Korea, Rep., Gamak Bay
• ISSN: 1598-141X
• DOI: 10.4217/OPR.2006.28.2.079

Spatio-temporal patterns in the zooplankton communities, physicochemical environmental factors, and dominant species were examined in Gamak Bay from April, July, September, and November, 2003. A total of 40 taxa were sampled with a mean abundance of total zooplankton ranging from 270 similar to 1,803 inds/m super(3). The most abundant species was Acartia erythraea, followed by Eurytemora pacifica, Podon polyphemoides, A. omorii, and Paracalanus parvus s. 1 during the study period. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in community structure among three regions: the middle part of the sampling area (B), sites 1, 2 (A) and other sites (C). The number of species and diversity (H') varied significantly among the three regions (p<0.05), but no differences in the mean abundances were observed (p>0.05). In order to investigate factors affecting the correlations between the abundance of dominant species, all zooplankton and environmental factors ware calculated using a correlation analysis. Of these, the abundance of dominant taxon showed positive correlation with seawater temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen (p<0.05). In statistical analysis showed that the environmental factors influencing the variation of the communities were predominantly temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.