¹Iranian National Center for Oceanography 9, Etemad Zadeh Ave., Fatemi S., Tehran, Iran 1411813390
²Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor D.E., Malaysia
³School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

*Corresponding author: rezaihamid@hotmail.com

Abstract

   The zooplankton composition and distribution were studied during four oceanographic cruises in the Straits of Malacca between November 1998 and August 2000 with 140 µm-mesh and 45-cm diameter NORPAC net. Zooplankton samples were analyzed for the faunal composition and abundance. Zooplankton abundance peaked during pre-southwest monsoon (mean of 12, 918 ± 5, 635 ind. m^-3). Copepods were the most important constituents of the zooplankton in all areas. Copepods (including copepodites) accounted for 71.3%, 71.2%, 70.9% and 57.9% of the total zooplankton populations during consecutive cruises I, II, III and IV, respectively. Molluscs (6.3% to 12.4%) and crustacean’s nauplii (4.4% to 6.0%) comprised the important groups of non-copepod zooplankton. Spatio-temporal variation in zooplankton abundance was not statistically significant. Zooplankton was more abundant in the near-coastal areas than in offshore areas, but the difference was not significant.