Comparison studies on major ecological characteristics of zooplankton in Mindong coastal waters in warm-water season of 2004 to 2006

Based on the zooplankton samples from 6 cruises in Mindong coastal waters,East China Sea(26°30′00″～27°10′00″N,119°59′40″～120°33′00″E) in May and August 2004,July and August 2005,May and August 2006,this study analyzed the species composition,the distribution of biomass,as well as the changes of dominant species.The data show little changes of species composition among 2004,2005 and 2006 with Pavocalanus crassirostris and Paracalanus parvus as the main dominant species in each cruise.The total numbers of species in 2004,2005 and 2006 were 151,127 and 144,respectively.The distribution of biomass was not homogeneous which was higher in the north than in the south with a tendency of decrease from the coast to the open sea.The distribution of dominant species was not even either,with significant assembling phenomenon.Water temperature and salinity were still the main factors affecting the biomass and distribution of zooplankton.