Monsoon effects on the copepod community structure in the Chabahar Bay, Oman Sea

Calanoid, cyclopoid, harpacticoid and poecilostomatoid copepods were investigated over the year at five stations in the Chabahar Bay, Oman Sea. This area is under the influence of the Indian Ocean seasonal monsoons. The samples were collected using vertical plankton tows with 100 µm mesh nets. Copepods were identified into 20 genera and 59 species. Calanoid formed about 15% to 62% and cyclopoid 26% to 39% of total copepod abundance. Harpacticoid constituted about 6% in South West (SW)-monsoon and flourished well in pre (SW)-monsoon, formed 46% of copepod abundance. Poecilostomatoid accounted for approximately 5% to 13% of the total copepods. The most dominant species were Temora turbinata, Paracalanus elegans, Oithona nana and Euterpina acutifrons. The results showed that the species composition and distribution of copepods differed between the monsoon seasons, due to changes in hydrographic conditions. Furthermore, high abundance of small-sized copepods observed in offshore stations.