Ecology and Distribution of Copepods from the Salt Pan Ecosystems of Mumbai, West Coast of India

Ecology and Distribution of Copepods from the Salt Pan Ecosystems of Mumbai, West Coast of India

Ecology, distribution and diversity of Copepod collected from two salt pans of Mumbai, India, are presented. Copepods, the main zooplankton components, consisted mainly of Bestiolina similis, Acartia southwelli, Oithona sp., O. similis, O. hebes and Mesochra sp. The species distribution showed pulses and peaks with harpacticoids dominating in extreme environmental conditions. The diversity and seasonal variations of species were considered in relation to environmental conditions. The study contemplates on the modification of a diverse community of copepods of the creek salt works into a simplified ecosystem of low complexity based on the influence of environmental factors on the copepods density.