Zooplankton Diversity at important Coral and Mangrove areas of Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India

Rajal Patel; Harshad Salvi; Roshan Bhagat; R D Kamboj

Rajal Patel Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation Indroda nature Park, P.O. Sector 7, Gandhinagar-382007, India
Harshad Salvi Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation Indroda nature Park, P.O. Sector 7, Gandhinagar-382007, India
Roshan Bhagat Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation Indroda nature Park, P.O. Sector 7, Gandhinagar-382007, India
R D Kamboj Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation Indroda nature Park, P.O. Sector 7, Gandhinagar-382007, India

Abstract

Zooplanktons are integral part of aquatic ecosystems and contribute considerably to the productivity of coastal waters. The present study was carried out to at two important ecosystems of Gulf of Kachchh (GoK) viz; Coral andMangrove to find the species diversity during May 2012 to April 2014. A total of 41 species of zooplankton including larval forms were recorded. Among that highest species were found belonging to major phylum Arthropoda, Forminifera, Ciliophora and Rotifera. The larval forms (8) are more evenly distributed at all sampling sites during the study period. The highest species diversity was contributed by the phylum Arthropodamostly Copepods (44%) and the maximum population
density was recorded during summer period at important coral as well asmangrove sites of GoK due to variation in environmental conditions prevailing during different seasons in the study area.