Zooplankton in a seagrass bed off Pulau Sibu [Johor, Malaysia]

Title: Zooplankton in a seagrass bed off Pulau Sibu [Johor, Malaysia] Authors: Idris Abd. Ghani; Salim Abd. Ghani; Misri Kusnan; Rosniza Ramli Abstract: A study on the density and distribution of zooplankton (copepods) in the horizontal and vertical position was conducted in a seagrass bed of Pulau Sibu, Mersing, Johor. A study to determine the horizontal distribution pattern in a non seagrass bed was also done as a comparison. Sampling was carried out by using a plankton net with a mesh size of 153 microns and Patalas plankton trap with a volume of 0.1587 m3. Analysis of the samples resulted in 13 genera from three orders of zooplankyon. Calanoid was found to be the most abundant comprising 35-45% of the total copepod sample, followed by cyclopoid (23-33%), harpacticoid (15%) and nauplii (18%).