ESTUARINE COPEPOD DIVERSITY IN MALATTAR, PUDUCHERRY
G. KRISHNAMOORTHY *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, K.M. CENTRE FORPG STUDIES, PUDUCHERRY-605 008, INDIA.
S. RAJALAKSHMI *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, K.M. CENTRE FORPG STUDIES, PUDUCHERRY-605 008, INDIA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Species composition and monthly abundance of copepods were studied in Malattar estuary from September 2006 to August 2007. A total of 13 taxa of copepods belonging to three groups were recorded. Among copepods, Cyclopoida constituted maximum abundance followed, by Calanoida and Harpacticoida. The maximum abundance was noticed in summer and minimum during monsoon seasons.
Keywords: Estuarine copepods, abundance, species diversity