ANNUAL CRUSTACEAN ZOOPLANKTON SUCCESSION (COPEPODA AND CLADOCERA) IN THE UPPER LAYER OF AHIRKAPI COASTAL WATERS (NORTHEASTERN SEA OF MARMARA)

Abstract

The monthly abundance of crustacean zooplankton in Ahirkapi coastal waters (northeastern Sea of Marmara) was studied from July 2005 to July 2006. Copepods and cladocerans showed clear seasonal patterns. The crustacean zooplankton community was dominated by coastal and temperate water species, in particular by the calanoid copepods Acartia clausi, Paracalanus parvus, and Centropages ponticus, and the cladoceran, Penilia avirostris.