Abundance and seasonal variations of zooplankton in the arid zone mangroves of Gulf of Kachchh-Gujarat, westcoast of India.

The zooplankton was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively in regard to their abundance in creek waters at three sites along the western mangrove of Kachchh, west coast of India, for a period of two years (1999-2000). Totally 69 forms of zooplankton were recorded currently from 3 stations. Of these, the copepods formed the dominant group. The population density in all the three sites varied from 30,000 to 210,000 organisms m(-3). Surface water temperature varied from 17 to 37 degrees C. Salinity varied from 34.0 to 44.0% per hundred and the pH ranged between 7.0 and 8.9. Variation in dissolved oxygen content was from 3.42 to 5.85 mg L(-1). These semi arid zone mangrove creek area having high densities were recorded during winter season.