Dynamics in mesozooplankton assemblage with respect to environmental variables in the coastal waters of Kalpakkam, southwestern Bay of Bengal

Heterogeneous assemblage of zooplankton community along coastal waters of Bay of Bengal comprised of 78 taxa of holoand 15 mero-plankton. Major meroplankters observed were crustacean larvae, polychaete larvae, veliger larvae of bivalves, gastropod etc, echinoderm larvae and chordate larvae. Copepods dominated the zooplankton community with similar to 50 - 60% to the total composition of zooplankton, quantitatively. Qualitatively and quantitatively, zooplankton showed a strong positive correlation (p >= 0.001) with chlorophyll-a and salinity respectively, indicating the role of phytoplankton and salinity for growth and survival of the former throughout the study period at this location. Copepod established a weak negative (p >= 0.01) and strong positive (p >= 0.001) correlation with temperature and salinity respectively. As copepod, their juveniles also were found dependent on salinity for their development by showing a strong positive correlation (p >= 0.001) with the later. Zooplankton taxa showed seasonal specificity as the main regulator of food, either as grazers or as preys.