Mesozooplankton Taxonomic Composition of the Canaries Current Ecosystem (Coast of Morocco)

Abstract

On the basis of the long-term sampling in the pelagic zone of the Moroccan coast of the Canaries Current ecosystem the faunistic analysis of mesozooplankton (with special reference to Copepoda) was carried out. The taxonomic composition, frequency of individual taxa occurrence as well as biotopical, bathymetrical and zoogeographical structures of the Copepoda fauna were assessed. Two Copepoda species absent in the other faunistic lists have been found – south-central Euchaeta paraconcinna and widely-tropical Paracalanus tropicus. Oceanic widely-tropical surface and interzonal species prevailed in the fauna. However, widely-tropical neritic species formed the basis of the constant species group (frequency of occurrence more than 50 %) and created the faunistic background of the area. The composition of the constant, secondary and accidental groups is rather conservative in terms of taxa frequency of occurrence. The occurrence frequency of the main Copepoda species corresponded extensively to their occurrence in the coastal areas of the entire North Atlantic subtropical circulation

Keywords

• mesozooplankton taxonomic composition
• the Canaries Current ecosystem
• frequency of occurrence
• biotopical
• bathymetrical and zoogeographical structures