Seasonal variation and longitudinal distribution of copepods in the main river area of the Three Gorges Reservoir

The ecosystem of the Three Gorges in the Yangtze River was changed into an artificial lake (reservoir) ecosystem after impoundment in June 2003. We surveyed the seasonal variation and spatial distribution of copepods from April 2004 to January 2005 in order to provide data for clarifying the successional pattern of the ecosystem. From Jiangjin to Maoping, eight copepod species were collected and classified into Calanoida (2), Harpacticoida (1), and Cyclopoida (5). Among them, Mesocyclops pehpeiensis, M. leuckarti and Sinocalanus dorrii had a relatively wide distribution. No distinct difference in species number was found among the sampling sites, but the species composition was different. Species composition, distribution and density of copepods showed significant seasonal variations. In addition, copepod density showed an obvious gradient with the distance from the reservoir dam: the nearer to the dam, the denser the copepods.