This study tried to find out any differences in sapatio-temporal distribution patterns of zooplankton communities in Masan and Jinhae Bay.
Zooplankton samples were collected at 13 stations in the study area in each season from May 2010 to February 2012. Environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were concurrently measured.
During the study, 52 taxa were found in zooplankton community, and the range of seasonal mean abundance was 3,152~182,348 indiv.・
m-3).
Among 52 zooplankton taxa, Noctiluca scintillans predominated in the zooplankton community (percentage ratio of 51.2%). Cladoceran was second dominant group (percentage ratio of 32.3%) and copepods was third dominant group (percentage ratio of 14.2%). 25 copepods species were found, and among these species, Acartia omorii, Acartia hudsonica, Acartia sinjiensis and Paracalanus parvus s.l. were dominant species in both study areas.
The lowest diversity index was observed in spring 2011 (0.18) but the highest in summer 2011 (1.64). The diversity index was relatively lower in Masan bay, adjacent to the land, but relatively higher in Jinhae bay, the offshore. By cluster analysis area was divided Group I which included Masan port, and Group II, other areas. The grouping tended to vary according to season.
Zooplankton community, occured in Masan and Jinhae Bay, was affected by seawater temperature and salinity which varied with season, and pollution indicator species were continuously observed in the study period, which means the study area did not escape yet from being polluted.
In conclusion, the occurrence patterns of zooplankton in Masan and Jinhae Bay were significantly influenced by physical and chemical environmental factors in water mass.
m-3), and the minimum in November 2010 (3,152 indiv.・
m-3. The maximum abundance was observed in August 2010 (182,348 indiv.・