Seasonal changes in the distribution and abundance of marine cladocerans of the Northwest Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean), Spain

The annual cycle of marine cladocerans was studied over six years from 1994 to 1999 within the frame of the monitoring Project ECOMALAGA at a nine stations in the NW of the Alboran Sea, with the aim of assessing seasonal patterns and interannual trends in distribution and abundance of marine cladocerans. Seven species (Penilia avirostris, Evadne nordmanni, Evadne spinifera, Pseudoevadne tergestina, Pleopis polyphemoides, Podon leuckarti and Podon intermedius) were detected in the northwest Alboran Sea. Total cladoceran relative abundance varied from 0 to 89 % of the total cladocerans. The abundance of cladocerans was higher in summer-autumn than in winter-spring (7012 - 4711.100 and 743 - 217.100m-3 , respectively). The species composition was very different in terms of seasonality. P. polyphemoides, P. leuckarti and P. intermedius appeared mostly during the spring. P. tergestina, E. spinifera and E. nordmanni predominantly occurred during the winter. P. avirostris occurred mostly during the summer and autumn