Abundance and diversity of surface zooplankton in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt

Surface zooplankton were studied in Egyptian coastal waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, from bimonthly samples from July 1994 to May 1995. Species diversity, numerical abundance and dynam- ics were analysed for each taxon, at six sites, inside three Protectorates. A total of 62 taxa and species were identified. At all sites, copepods were predominant in the standing crop with an average of 1945 ind. m~3 and formed -75.5%, numerically, of the total zooplankton community. The meroplanktonic larvae occupied the second rank and they constituted -19.7% of the total zooplankton. Seasonally, the main peak of zooplankton abundance was recorded in winter (January) with an average of 3510 ind. m~3, while September was characterized by the lowest density (1906 ind. m~3). The relatively higher diversity values were recorded at Ras Mohammed Protectorate and a progressive decline in diversity was observed northward.