Study on diversity and density of zooplankton communities and its relation with environmental factors in Gomishan Wetland

The role and importance of zooplankton in food chain and ecological pyramid of Wetland ecosystems has been remarkably considered. As Gomishan Wetland is affected by the increasing and decreasing of water level, the diversity, density and spatial distribution of zooplankton fauna could influence on the ecosystem cycling of matter. Hence, in the present study, the diversity, density and spatial distribution of zooplankton fauna inhabiting in the Wetland at four stations (Gomishan Estuary, Zehkesh, Bandar Torkman, and Shrimp site) in spring and summer 2011. To do so, comparisons of density, diversity and evenness indices amongst different locations of the studied stations were conducted and RDA analysis was used to investigate the relationship and effect of environmental factors on density of zooplankton taxa. The identified Zooplankton taxa included bivalvia (Pyrgulidae, Scrubicularidae, Cardiidae, and Mytilidae), Calanoida, Ostracoda, Foraminifera, Nematode, Chironomidae, and Gamaridae. For most of comparisons, indices of N, S, d, J, H, λ showed no significant difference (P>0.05) amongst various locations of each sampling station in the studied seasons (spring and summer). Results of RDA analysis showed a difference amongst various sampling stations in affecting physicochemical parameters on zooplankton density at each seasons.