Journal of Environmental Biology

Seasonal changes of zooplankton community around Dokdo in the East Sea

Paper received:? 11.01.2019??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Revised received:? 25.03.2019???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Accepted: 30.04.2019

Authors Info

D.K. Pardianto¹, B.R. Lee¹,

K.H. Choi² and W. Park¹* ?

¹Department of Marine Biology, Pukyong National University, Busan-48513, Korea

²Dokdo Fisheries Research Center, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Pohang-37709, Korea

*Corresponding Author Email :

wpark@pknu.ac.kr

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal changes in distribution, composition and abundance of zooplankton community in relation with hydrography such as temperature and salinity in the East Sea.    

Methodology: Seasonal changes of zooplankton community were studied at 12 stations near Dokdo in the East Sea. Zooplankton were seasonally sampled in 2011. Water temperature and salinity were simultaneously measured at the zooplankton sampling sites.    

Results: The mean surface water temperature was highest in summer, lowest in winter and intermediate in spring and fall. The mean surface water salinity was highest in winter and spring, lowest in summer and intermediate in fall. Total 215 species belonging to 65 families were identified. Zooplankton mean densities gradually increased from winter to fall. Total species number was lowest in winter and highest in summer. Copepods prevailed as dominant zooplankton groups in all seasons. The mean densities of dominant zooplankton species varied with seasons.    

Interpretation: Zooplankton communities varied with season, particularly water masses were driven by water currents as a main factor controlling zooplankton community composition, abundance and distribution.

Key words: Dokdo, Hydrography, Seasonal changes, Zooplankton

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