Abstract
Principal component analysis (PCA) is a technique used to emphasize variation and bring out strong patterns in a dataset. It is often used to make data easy to explore and visualize. The primary objective of the present study was to record information of zooplankton diversity in a systematic way and to study the variability and relationships among seasons prevailed in Gulf of Mannar. The PCA for the zooplankton seasonal diversity was investigated using the four seasonal datasets to understand the statistical significance among the four seasons. Two different principal components (PC) were segregated in all the seasons homogeneously. PCA analyses revealed that Temora turbinata is an opportunistic species and zooplankton diversity was significantly different from season to season and principally, the zooplankton abundance and its dynamics in Gulf of Mannar is structured by seasonal current patterns. The factor loadings of zooplankton for different seasons in Tiruchendur coastal water (GOM) is different compared with the Southwest coast of India; particularly, routine and opportunistic species were found within the positive and negative factors. The copepods Acrocalanus gracilis and Acartia erythrea were dominant in summer and Southwest monsoon due to the rainfall and freshwater discharge during the summer season; however, these species were replaced by Temora turbinata during Northeast monsoon season.
Highlights
Zooplankton inhabits oceans at all the depths and occupies every ecological niche that is considered as the chief index of utilizing aquatic biotope at the secondary trophic level (Pitchaikani and Lipton, 2015)
The Principal component analysis (PCA) for the zooplankton seasonal diversity was investigated using the four seasonal datasets to understand the statistical significance among the four seasons viz. post monsoon (January-March), summer season (April-June), southwest monsoon (July-September) and northeast monsoon (October-December)
The copepods Acrocalanus gracilis and Acartia erythrea were dominant in summer and southwest monsoon due to the rainfall and freshwater discharge during the summer season; these species were replaced by Temora turbinata during northeast monsoon season
Summary
Zooplankton inhabits oceans at all the depths and occupies every ecological niche that is considered as the chief index of utilizing aquatic biotope at the secondary trophic level (Pitchaikani and Lipton, 2015). Copepods are the important grazers of phytoplankton and micro zooplankton, and they form a major trophic link to many predatory invertebrates and fish (Atkinson, 1996). Studies related to seasonal variation and zooplankton diversity in offshore waters, in fishing grounds of Gulf of Mannar, is meager; the present study was established to investigate the relationship between seasons and zooplankton diversity. The primary objective of the present study was to record information of zooplankton diversity in a systematic way and to study the variability and relationships among seasons prevailed, which in turn should be useful for an understanding of highly variable aquatic environments in general, besides Gulf of Mannar
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