Distribution, Abundance and Composition of Zooplankton in the South China Sea, Area II: Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam Waters

Abstract

The samples of 79 stations in Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei Darusalam waters were collected by M.V. SEAFDEC on 4 July - 9 August 1996 and on 25 April - 31 May 1997. Thirty-eight groups of zooplankton were found in this study. Copopoda dominated the zooplankton population, followed by Ostracoda and Chaetognatha in both period. Biomass vary from 0.11-1.54 ml/m³ (average 0.44±0.25) and 0.09-1.76 ml/m³ (average 0.45±0.33) in July and May respectively. Abundance vary from 72-681 no/m³ (average 232±125) and 35-1,383 no/m³ (average 251±216) in July and May respectively. T-test shows no significant difference of biomass and abundance between July and May.