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¹ Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS). No. 3, Etemadzadeh St., Fatemi Ave., Tehran, 1411813389, IR Iran
² School of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia DOI : 10.4194/2618-6381-v20_1_01 Viewed : 9148 - Downloaded : 3080 In this study diversity and abundance of zooplankton in south Caspian Sea offshore waters were investigated. During the first season of oceanographic cruise in winter 2014 at southern part of Caspian Sea, 8 stations at offshore waters of south Caspian Sea were selected. Totally, 4 Holopelankton and 6 meroplankton were identified. Among the identified zooplanktonic groups, Copepods were the main zooplanktonic group that constituted about 53% of total abundance and 65% of total biomass. They were dominant in all stations. Predominant species of copepods was Acartia tonsa. Its abundance was between (106±42 ind.m-3 ) and (1545±181 ind.m-3 ). After A. tonsa, lamellibranch larvae had the highest abundance in all stations (18%) and fish larvae was at second place in terms of biomass (27%). Results showed after invasion of M. leidyi, composition and abundance of zooplankton in south Caspian Sea waters greatly changed. Keywords : Plankton, Cladocera, Copepod, Diversity, Abundance