International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.58, 1-8
5
Fig. 5 Percentage of important groups of zooplankton at study Fig. 6 Percentage of Copepods groups of zooplankton at study
area in Shatt Al-Arab, sampled seasonally through 2013. area in Shatt Al-Arab, sampled seasonally through 2013.
Fig. 7 Percentage of Copepoda at stations 1, 2 and 3 in Shatt Al-Arab, sampled seasonally through 2013.
Station 1 (Al-Ashar)
The density of zooplankton ranged from 659 ind./m
3
in winter to 23607 ind./m
3
in summer (Table 1). The average
seasonal density was 7504 ind./m
3
.
The Cladocera was the dominant group which constitute 73% of the total zooplankton, the highest peak was
18922 ind./m
3
in summer. The dominant species were Moina affinis (51.3%) and Diaphanosoma brachyurum
(21.9%). The second important group was Cirripede larvae (24%) then Copepoda (3%) (Fig. 8).
Station 2 (Abu Al-Khasib)
The population density of zooplankton ranged from 253 ind./m
3
during winter to 23981 ind./m
3
during summer
(Table 1). The average seasonal density was 7959 ind./m
3
. The Cirripede larvae was the dominant group
comprising 87% of the total zooplankton, the highest peak was 22283 ind./m
3
in summer. The second important
group was Copepoda (5%) then Cladocera and Rotifera (4%) (Fig. 8).
