Seasonal variation in the composition of shallow water zooplankton of Talin Bay, Batangas

• Main Author: Vitug, Eileen Z.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1984
• Subjects: Zooplankton; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1059
• Institution: De La Salle University

Zooplankton were collected monthly from the mangrove, seagrass and coral reef subhabitats of Talin Bay using a plankton net of mesh size 0.17 mm from June 1981 to May 1982. The samples were preserved in 5 formalin, counted using a Sedgewick rafter and their densities computed for the 150 m length of the water column sampled. Diurnal variation in zooplankton density was noted by 6 hourly sampling once during the wet season and once during the dry season. Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and rainfall were also monitored. Monthly mean zooplankton density was 143.06/m3 and dry weight 1.19mg/m3. High zooplankton density was recorded in August 1981 and February 1982. Copepods comprised 54.09 percent of all the zooplankton present. Copepod genera Oithona, Cyclopina and Clytemnestra occurred in highest numbers during the wet season while veliger larvae exhibited their peak during the dry season. Isopods, amphipods and cumaceans exhibited distinct diurnal variations.