Study of Morphology and Density of Acartidae species (Copepoda: Calanoida) in Hendijan Harbor (NW Persian Gulf)

The present investigation is based on separation and identification of Planktonic Acartidae in Hendijan Harbor during 2010-2011. Zooplankton samples collected by plankton net (100μm) from six stations in July، August، October of 2010 and December، February، April of 2011. In this study family of Acartidae was represented by 5 species: Acartia ohtsukai، A. erythraea، A. danae، A. fossae and Acartiella faoensis. Abundance of each species was measured in sampling stations and studying months. The highest density of Acartidae copepods were recorded in August and August 2010 (12037±1200 Ind. /m3) and any species of this family did not observed in December and February 2010. Family Acartidae formed 28% of all planktonic copepods during studying period. A. faoensis with relative frequency of 19% was dominant species among all Copepods. There was Positive significant correlation coefficient between density of Acartidae and water temperature (P<0. 05) that shows effect of temperature on density of Acartidae species.