Species richness, abundance and vertical distribution of Copepods in Banda Sea, Indonesia

The aims of this research were to investigate the species richness and abundance of Copepods. Copepods were sampled using rosette sampler (surface, 25 m and 75 m) on November 21 st – 30 th , 2013, from the Banda Sea. A total of 21 taxa of Copepods belonging to three orders were identified. Calanoid was identified as the most richness order, followed by Cyclopoid and Harpacticoid. The highest value of total abundance in the surface water is 121 ind/6L, in the 25 m of depth is 221 ind/6 L, and in the 75 m of depth is 96 ind/6L. Acrocalanus longicornis is the most abundant taxa of Copepods, followed by Acartia bispinosa, and Subeucalanus mucronatus. The most predominant taxa of Acartia bispinosa, and Subeucalanus mucronatus showed a remarkable peak at 25 m layers.