Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Calanoid copepod diversity and distribution with reference to abiotic factors in coastal Bay of Bengal

Volume 68 Issue 1

K. Sivakumar, Md Anwar Nawaz, P. Muthupriya and S. V. Meenakshi

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2026.68.1.2664-05

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms that maintain the diversity of plankton communities in marine waters remains a major challenge in modern oceanography. Calanoid copepods are dominant members of marine zooplankton communities. Hence, the present study focuses on the relationship between calanoid copepods and various environmental parameters on the Southeast Coast of India. Zooplankton samples were collected from January to December 2021 from three stations on the Chennai coast. Water abiotic factors, such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, calcium, and magnesium, were studied throughout the study period. A total of 35 calanoid species have been reported from the Coramondal coastline, which is part of the Bay of Bengal. Among these, 26 species were found in the central part of the study area (Marina), 25 species in the southern part of the study area (Kovalam), and 16 species in the northern part of the study area (Ennore). A high Shannon’s diversity index was observed during February at the Marina (2.386) and Kovalam (2.543) stations. A significant negative regression coefficient was observed between the calanoid copepods and temperature, calcium, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia. However, dissolved oxygen was observed with a significant positive regression coefficient at all stations. This study provides a detailed overview of the relationships between various calanoid species and various abiotic parameters along the tropical coast.

Keywords

Bay of Bengal, coastal systems, environmental gradients, calanoida, copepod ecology

Date : 26-05-2026