Zooplankton Community Composition in the Northwestern Part of the Persian Gulf during PG-GOOS Oceanographic Cruise

The zooplankton community and environmental conditions were monitored during Dec. 2012 PG-GOOS (Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman Oceanographic Study) oceanographic cruise on board N/V Ja Nayband throughout the northwestern part of the Persian Gulf. Data of temperature, salinity, depth and pH as well as zooplankton community composition and abundance were collected from 17 stations. The zooplankton community was numerically dominated by copepods, with various meroplankton and holoplankton in lower abundances. Mean zooplankton abundance was recorded at 285 (±1.7) ind. m-3 The highest copepod abundance was 274 ind.m-3 at station located at the Mond Protected Area (MPA). Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups of co-occurring zooplankton taxa distributed in relation to water temperature, but not salinity.