Planktonic Copepoda along the Confinement Gradient of the Taranto Sea System (Southern Italy) after Lockdown of Human Activities Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study was conducted in the sea system of Taranto (south Italy) to explore consequences COVID-19 lockdown all human activities on zooplankton abundance and composition. Copepoda were selected as best indicators four different dates taken represent annual variability. The availability samples from past collections (15 30 years ago) allowed comparison with previous situations. community most confined part (stations MPI MPII) dominated by small-sized species showed new arrivals, including Acartia tonsa, Centropages hamatus, Pseudodiaptomus sp. first inlet Mar Piccolo (MPI) an unusually high number summer 2020, just at end period (March–May 2020). evident growth richness station MPI, only during suggests a role post-lockdown probably result ceasing disturbance caused ship/boat traffic site, which is heavily affected daily sea.