Diversity and Abundance of Marine Copepods in Muthupet Mangrove Waters, Southeast Coast of India

摘要: The aim of the study is to evaluate diversity and relative abundance copepods in Muthupet waters. Two years (January 2009 December 2010) investigation resulted 75 species identified waters comprising 51 Calanoida, 14 Cyclopoida 10 Harpacticoida. copepod population showed a bimodal pattern distribution, where first peak was encountered during February March second occurred 2010. bulk contributed by namely, Paracalanus parvus, Nannocalanus minor, Acartia spinicauda, A. danae, Acrocalanus gracilis Oithona rigida. Generally, calanoid were found be dominant with 68 % followed (18.66 %) Harpacticoida (13.33 %). Copepods lagoon has been positively influenced salinity. Population density, richness higher summer due stable hydro-graphical conditions. However, high evenness observed monsoon season indicating that equally distributed. It concluded mangrove wetland ecosystem considered as rich bio-diversity hot spot for marine copepods.