Species assemblage and community patterns of cyclopoid copepods in kavarathi atoll along the Indian coast

Despite the importance of cyclopoid copepod community in the global carbon cycle, diversity studies on copepods in Lakshadweep islands have usually been concentrated on calanoid group and little is known about the marine cyclopoid groups. The seasonal abundance, diversity and community structure of cyclopoid copepods in Kavarathi atoll, from April 2013 (premonsoon), September 2013 (monsoon) and January 2014, is presented. A total of 28 cyclopoids belonging to 4 subgenera, 4 genera and 3 families were identified of which 21 are new records to Kavarathi lagoon. They are Corycaeus clausi, Corycaeus affinis, Corycaeus crassiusculus, Corycaeus speciosus, Corycaeus Agetus limbatus, Urocorycaeus furcifer, Onychocorycaeus catus, Onychocorycaeus agilis, Onychocorycaeus giesbrechti, Onychocorycaeus latus, Ditrichocoryceus andrewsi, Ditrichocoryceus asiaticus, Ditrichocoryceus dahli, Ditrichocoryceus tenius, Farranula concinna, Farranula gracilis, Farranula rostrata, Farranula curta, Oncaea clevei, Oncaea media and Oithona atlandica. The cyclopoid taxa of Kavarathi lagoon appear to exhibit increase in abundance during the post monsoon; taxa dominance and evenness seemed to be higher during monsoon. The community structure of cyclopoid copepods were also analyzed broadly in accordance with abundance as criterion for different seasons.