Assessing Density and Biomass of Two Species of Crustaceans from Copepoda and Cladocera in Babolsar Shore Area

In this study, species diversity, density and biomass of two classes of crustaceans (Copepoda and Cladocera) in the shore area of the Babolsar in the three stations (with depth of 5, 10 and 20 m) were assessed in the cold season (February 2015) and the warm season (June 2015). Acartia (Acanthacartia) tonsa from Copepoda and Pleopsis polyphemoides from Cladocera were identified in the collected samples. The highest density and biomass of zooplankton was belonged to A. tonsa which occurred at the stations with the depth of 5 and 10 meters and decreased with increasing depth. The results showed that diversity, density and biomass of zooplanktons were statistically higher in warm season compared to cold season, but their values did not statistically change in the considered stations. The results of this study in comparison with previous studies showed that the diversity of Copepoda and Cladocera in Babolsar shore area was the same as previous years and there were no notable changes observed.