The quantitative sampling of demersal zooplankton in Onslow Bay, North Carolina.

Abstract

Demersal zooplankton were sampled using three complimentary trapping techniques at four locations in Onslow Bay, North Carolina from 1983 to 1986. All three types of traps were placed by scuba and surface-supplied divers from the R/V Seahawk. There was no significant difference between the taxonomic composition and biomass of demersal zooplankton/m^2 emerging from the substrate when compared to the zooplankton biomass/m^2 that reentered the substrate. There was, however, a significant difference between both the taxonomic composition and pooled means between demersal zooplankton and planktonic forms. Overall demersal zooplankton abundance appeared to be correlated with microalgal biomass concentrations at the sediment-water column interface.