Ecology of Indian estuaries: Studies on the zooplankton ecology of Kadinamkulam Backwater

Abstract

Ecology of the zooplankton of Kadinamkulam Backwater, a brackish water lake along the south-west coast of India, has been studied from February 1980-January 1981. Seasonal distribution of the zooplankton followed an uniform pattern throughout the backwater. Zooplankton in the Kadinamkulam Backwater is composed of foraminifers, coelenterates, nematodes, rotifers, chaetognaths, polychaetes, cladocerans, ostracods, amphipods, copepods, decapod larvae, insect larvae, bivalves, tunicates, and fish eggs and larvae. Among these, rotifers, copepods and copepod nauplii are the major components which form the bulk of the zooplankton (nearly 98 %). A distinct regional variation is discernible in the dominance of zooplankton components. Copepods constitute the dominant group near the barmouth and middle portion of the backwater, while rotifers are dominant in the upper reaches, where freshwater influx was relatively high. Factors influencing seasonal variation and distribution have also been discussed.