2008年初冷事件对南海北部夏季浮游动物的影响

2008年初,我国南方出现了罕见的低温冰冻极端天气过程。通过对2007年8月和2008年8月南海北部现场调查所获得的数据分析研究了浮游动物种类组成。结果表明,与2007年8月相比2008年8月浮游动物丰度和生物量有很大的下降。聚类分析结果表明浮游动物群落被分为近岸和远海两大类群。浮游动物近岸类群和远岸类群的分界点在不同的时间有所不同,这是由于外海水向近岸的入侵所致。与2007年8月相比,2008年8月浮游动物优势种发生了很大的演替,主要是因为四种浮游动物优势种亚强真哲水蚤、异尾宽水蚤、锥形宽水蚤和小哲水蚤丰度急剧下降所致。相反,水母类和海樽类丰富有很大的升高,其原因可能是2008年春季极端低温导致的鱼类大量死亡所致。与远岸浮游动物群落相比,近岸浮游动物群落变化更剧烈,这说明近岸浮游动物群落结构不稳定。南海北部浮游动物群落结构的变化与2008年初的冷事件有很大关系。     

雷州半岛沿岸海域浮游桡足类的分布特征及其影响因素

根据2017年10月和2018年1、5、7月对雷州半岛沿岸海域浮游动物四个季度的调查数据,分析了浮游桡足类群落组成的季节变化及其影响因素.结果共鉴定出浮游桡足类80种,其中哲水蚤目55种,占总种类数的68.7％;剑水蚤目21种,占总种类数的26.2％;猛水蚤目3种,占总种类数的3.8％;鱼虱目1种,占总种类数的1.3％...     

珠江口枯水期和丰水期中小型浮游动物群落动态

根据珠江口枯水期(2013年11月)和丰水期(2014年8月) 24个站位调查资料,对中小型浮游动物种类组成、丰度分布、群落结构及其主要影响因子进行了研究.结果表明,枯水期和丰水期分别鉴定浮游动物成体91种和70种,以桡足类最为丰富.浮游动物种类从河口上游向外围逐渐增加.浮游动物丰度时空分布差异显著,丰水期平均值高达11 619. 78 ind/m~3,显著高于枯水期的1 707. 13 ind/m~3.桡足类在珠江口中小型浮游动物中占绝对优势,枯水期和丰水期分别占总丰度的80. 3%和93. 0%,对浮游动物的丰度分布起关键作用.强额孔雀哲水蚤(Parvocalanus crassirostris)、中华异水蚤(Acartiella sinensis)和刺尾纺锤水蚤(Acartia spinicauda)在两个水期均为主要优势种,小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)和厦门矮隆哲水蚤(Bestiolina amoyensis)则分别在枯水期和丰水期具有较高的优势度.聚类分析的结果显示,枯水期和丰水期该水域浮游动物均可划分为3个群落.相关性分析表明,珠江口中小型浮游动物群落结构受多个环境因子的影响,但盐度是其中最为关键的非生物因子.     

2012年冬季菲律宾海浮游动物丰度和生物量的水平分布

为了解西太平洋菲律宾海浮游动物丰度和生物量的水平分布特征,于2012年11月26日至2012年12月12日对菲律宾海上层海洋(0—200m)的浮游动物进行了调查。调查站位分别位于受赤道逆流(NECC)、棉兰老流(MC)、北赤道流(NEC)和黑潮(KC)影响的海域。通过比较浮游动物的丰度和生物量(分别用干重,灰分,无灰干重和含能量等指标表示),探讨不同海流中浮游动物的分布特征。结果表明:桡足类、毛颚类和水母类是菲律宾海浮游动物的三大主要类群。调查海域浮游动物丰度为11—116ind./m3,NECC区平均丰度最高((96±28)ind./m3),然后依次是MC区和KC区,NEC区最小((26±9)ind./m3)。在浮游动物生物量(干重)方面,同样NECC区最高((3.25±1.11)mg/m3),其次为MC区,但是平均丰度最小的NEC区生物量超过KC区。造成这一差异的主要原因,可能是由于KC区的浮游动物具有更高的含水量以及较小个体所占比例较高。不同水团之间浮游动物灰分、无灰干重和含能量的分布特征与干重相一致。结合环境因子分析显示,上升流、叶绿素a、初级生产力、海流和温度等因素对浮游动物的分布具有一定影响。     

北黄海獐子岛海域强壮箭虫(Sagitta crassa)丰度的周年变化及其与环境因子的关系

强壮箭虫是我国温带海域的浮游动物优势种。本文通过2009年7月至2010年6月在北黄海獐子岛海域的逐月综合调查,研究了大网浮游动物中强壮箭虫丰度的周年变化及其与环境因子的关系。结果显示,强壮箭虫年平均丰度为22.6 ind/m3,高峰值出现在12月（47.5 ind/m3）,最低值出现在8月（7.8 ind/m3）;在水平分布上,除了夏季的8月,全年近岸海域强壮箭虫丰度均高于外海海域,且在10月及次年2月差异显著（P<0.05）。相关性分析显示,作为肉食性浮游动物,强壮箭虫丰度时空变化除了受温度和盐度影响外,还与饵料生物（主要是桡足类）丰度有关。我们认为,这是其丰度周年变化规律在不同海域出现明显差异的主要原因。     

Spatial distribution of zooplankton in the intertidal marsh creeks of the Yangtze River Estuary,China

Zooplankton are important grazers of primary production within intertidal marshes and are the optimal prey of higher trophic consumers; however, the patterns of their spatial distribution in marsh creeks are rarely reported. The zooplankton in the intertidal creeks with different salinities at Dongtan marshes of the Yangtze River Estuary was surveyed. The mean zooplankton densities in the intertidal creeks were 53,638 ind. m⁻³ in April and 132,916 ind. m⁻³ in July, respectively, which were as high as in the near-shore subtidal waters of the Yangtze River Estuary. This high abundance implied the important roles of zooplankton in the matter flux between marshes and near-shore waters through complex intertidal creek systems. Zooplankton total densities changed significantly from northern to southern creeks. ANOSIM and CCA analyses revealed that the zooplankton community structure were significantly different among the northern, eastern and southern creeks, and between two sampling seasons. Salinity accounted for most of the spatial variation of zooplankton community, whereas water temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, and pH were the main reasons of the temporal variation observed. Copepods were the most abundant zooplankton group. A total of 24 copepod species, belonging to 15 families and 20 genera, were recorded. Planktonic copepods preferred the northern and eastern creeks, with higher densities in July than in April, while benthic copepods predominated only in the northern creeks in April. Since the role of benthic and planktonic copepods may differ in transporting nutrients in the intertidal creeks, it is suggested that the variations in their distribution may influence the ecological functions of zooplankton in the estuarine matter fluxes both spatially and temporally.     

Zooplankton dynamics in the northern Benguela ecosystem,with special reference to the copepod Calanoides carinatus

Main features of the zooplankton distribution and the ecological characteristics of the dominant species in the northern Benguela during different phases of upwelling are discussed. The composition of the zooplankton between 17 and 27°S was similar each year. Among the 20°30 most abundant species, 3°4 copepods dominated, influencing the distribution of total zooplankton biomass. During quiescent upwelling, zooplankton abundance was low and there were no significant differences in the inshore-offshore distribution of zooplankton biomass, the maximum occurring over the slope. During active upwelling, zooplankton biomass increased significantly, the maximum over the shelf being constituted almost entirely of developmental stages of herbivorous copepods. Over the inner shelf, all stages of the copepod Calanoides carinatus were feeding actively, removing up to 5 per cent per day of the standing stock of phytoplankton. Comparison of daily ration, respiration rate and biochemical composition of C. carinatus revealed active storage of energy inshore. Offshore populations of C. carinatus, found deeper than 200 m, comprised mainly copepodite stage V, which were not feeding and were characterized by decreased mobility and respiration and a high lipid content. It is estimated that the energy stored during active upwelling enables copepods to survive up to six months without any additional source of energy.     

Seasonal variability of the zooplankton community in the southwest of the Huanghai Sea (Yellow Sea) Cold Water Mass

Samples were collected with a plankton net in the four seasonal cruises during 2006-2007 to study the seasonal variability of the zooplankton community in the southwest part of Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass (HSCWM, Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass). The spatial and temporal variations of zooplankton species composition, biomass, abundance and biodiversity were examined. A total of 122 zooplankton species and 30 pelagic larvae were identified in the four cruises. Calanus sinicus and Aidanosagitta crassa were the most dominant species, and Themisto gaudichaudi and Euphausia pacifica were widely distributed in the HSCWM area. The spatial patterns of non-gelatinous zooplankton (removing the high water content groups) were similar to those of the total zooplankton biomass in autumn, but different significantly in the other three seasons. The seasonal means of zooplankton biomass in spring and summer were much higher than that in autumn and winter. The total zooplankton abundance averaged 283.5 ind./m~3 in spring (highest), 192.5 ind./m~3 in summer, 165.5 ind./m~3 in autumn and 65.9 ind./m~3 in winter (lowest), and the non-gelatinous groups contributed the most total abundance. Correlation analysis suggests that the non-gelatinous zooplankton biomass and abundance had a significant positive correlation in the whole year, but the relationship was insignificant between the total zooplankton biomass and abundance in spring and summer. The diversity index H of zooplankton community averaged 1.88 in this study, which was somewhat higher than historical results. Relatively low diversity in summer was related to the high dominance of Calanus sinicus, probably due to the strongest effect of the HSCWM in this season.     

Seasonal and inter-annual variation of mesozooplankton in the coastal upwelling zone off central-southern Chile

Zooplankton sampling at Station 18 off Concepción (36°30′S and 73°07′W), on an average frequency of 30 days (August 2002 to December 2005), allowed the assessment of seasonal and inter-annual variation in zooplankton biomass, its C and N content, and the community structure in relation to upwelling variability. Copepods contributed 79% of the total zooplankton community and were mostly represented by Paracalanus parvus, Oithona similis, Oithona nana, Calanus chilensis, and Rhincalanus nasutus. Other copepod species, euphausiids (mainly Euphausia mucronata), gelatinous zooplankton, and crustacean larvae comprised the rest of the community. Changes in the depth of the upper boundary of the oxygen minimum zone indicated the strongly seasonal upwelling pattern. The bulk of zooplankton biomass and total copepod abundance were both strongly and positively associated with a shallow (<20 m) oxygen minimum zone; these values increased in spring/summer, when upwelling prevailed. Gelatinous zooplankton showed positive abundance anomalies in the spring and winter, whereas euphausiids had no seasonal pattern and a positive anomaly in the fall. The C content and the C/N ratio of zooplankton biomass significantly increased during the spring when chlorophyll-a was high (>5 mg m⁻³). No major changes in zooplankton biomass and species were found from one year to the next. We concluded that upwelling is the key process modulating variability in zooplankton biomass and its community structure in this zone. The spring/summer increase in zooplankton may be largely the result of the aggregation of dominant copepods within the upwelling region; these may reproduce throughout the year, increasing their C content and C/N ratios given high diatom concentrations.     

福建宁德晴川湾海域水母群落特征及其潜在生态风险分析

根据2018年1月(冬季)、4月(春季)、7月(夏季)和11月(秋季)在宁德晴川湾海域浮游动物调查的4个航次数据,分析该海域水母群落结构和季节变化特征,讨论了水母对宁德晴川湾核电站安全生产潜在的风险。结果表明:宁德晴川湾海域水母类种类组成、丰度分布和优势种演替均存在季节变化,春、夏、秋、冬该海域水母种数分别为7种、16种、9种和3种,丰度均值分别为(45.48±8.24)个/m3、(50.26±12.13)个/m3、(3.68±1.91)个/m3和(0.18±0.07)个/m3,首要优势种分别为印度感棒水母(Laodicea indica)、球型侧腕水母(Pleurobrachia globosa)、双生水母(Diphyes chamissonis)和耳状囊水母(Euphysa aurata),优势种类组成季节演替明显。春季和夏季水母的丰度与浮游动物的总丰度呈极显著相关,在夏季其数量与浮游动物中的桡足类数量呈显著相关(p<0.05,R=0.363),秋季和冬季水母群落的丰度主要受盐度的影响。秋、冬季该海域盐度、温度均较低,水母的丰度也较低。根据宁德晴川湾核电站附近海域水母分布特征,以水母丰度50 个/m3为风险阈值考虑,夏季为潜在高风险季节,需重点关注距核电站冷源取水口5～20 km海域;其次是春季,重点关注距取水口2.5～5 km海域;秋季和冬季基本不会因水母而引起核电站冷源安全事故发生。     

Cross-shelf distribution of copepods and the role of event-scale winds in a northern California upwelling zone

Cross-shelf distribution and abundance of copepod nauplii and copepodids were measured during three summer upwelling seasons (2000–2002) in a coastal upwelling zone off northern California. These 3 years varied considerably in the intensity of winds, abundance of chlorophyll, and water temperature. The cruises in 2000 were characterized by relaxation conditions, with generally high levels of chlorophyll and high water temperature. The cruises in 2001 and 2002 were dominated by strong and persistent upwelling events, leading to lower chlorophyll and water temperatures. The copepod assemblage was dominated by Oithona spp., Acartia spp. and Pseudocalanus spp., with Metridia pacifica (lucens), Microsetella rosea, Oncaea spp. and Tortanus discaudatus also common during all 3 years. The cross-shelf distribution of copepods was generally shifted offshore during upwelling and onshore during relaxation events, although some variability between species occurred. Abundance of all life stages generally exhibited a negative correlation with cross-shelf transport averaged over at least 1–4 days and lagged by 0–3 days, indicating lower abundances during and immediately after active upwelling. However, copepod nauplii seemed to respond positively to wind events lasting 1–5 days followed by a period of relaxation lasting 6 or 7 days. These rapid rates of change in abundance are probably too great to be due to in situ growth and reproduction alone; physical processes must also play a role. These results suggest a highly dynamic relationship between copepods and upwelling events off northern California, with species-specific responses to upwelling to be expected.     

Mesozooplankton dynamics in the Benguela ecosystem,with emphasis on the herbivorous copepods

Recent research developments on the ecology, dynamics and trophic position of copepods in the Benguela ecosystem are synthesized. Attention is focused on herbivorous species of the southern Benguela and how they cope with the physical and biological variability characteristic of this upwelling region. Copepods constitute on average approximately half of the total zooplankton carbon and. are most abundant during the upwelling season. They are able to maintain large population densities within local coastal upwelling areas by combining ontogenetically based vertical migration behaviour with features of the current system. Some species have developed finely tuned strategies to overcome periods of starvation between upwelling bouts by storing lipid reserves or by entering temporary developmental arrest. In situ measurements of production rates of local species are among the highest recorded for copepods. Despite an apparent excess of food, copepods exert only limited impact on the phytoplankton, removing on average <25 per cent of that available daily. Indirect estimates of carbon flux indicate that 11–25 per cent of copepod daily ration is used for egestion of faecal pellets. Copepods are the preferred prey of a wide variety of invertebrate and vertebrate predators. Large copepods in particular are important in the diet of commercially exploited pelagic fish. Localized areas of low abundance of copepods have been found in association with high densities of anchovy during peak spawning and recruitment periods. Copepods may therefore constitute a central limiting factor for pelagic fish production in the southern Benguela.     

2001—2002年粤东柘林湾浮游动物的生态学研究

2001年4月-2002年4月,利用生态学方法对粤东柘林湾浮游动物进行的周年调查结果表明,粤东柘林湾浮游动物有桡足类34属60种,枝角类3属3种,及端足类、磷虾、糠虾、多毛类、毛颚类、被囊类、水母和各种浮游幼体虫.浮游动物的群落构成小型化趋势明显,因为体长不足0.6 mm的小型优势种强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus crassirostris)、短角长腹剑水蚤(Oithona brevicornis)和鸟喙尖头(氵蚤)(Penilia avirostris)在浮游动物总个体数中所占比例合计高达57.1 %.浮游动物的种类数、总个体数和生物量的平面分布模式大体相似,即湾外大于湾内,外侧大于内侧,东部大于西部.总个体数与生物量的周年变化曲线与水温的变化趋势非常相似,高峰位于高温季节的8-9月,低谷位于冬季2月.调查期间柘林湾浮游动物非常丰富,年均总个体数达15.8×103 ind/m3,生物量达227.8mg*dW/m3.在单一调查年度内,浮游动物丰度与水温、浮游植物细胞数呈显著正相关关系.在不同年份,浮游动物丰度与浮游植物密度则表现为负相关的趋势.     

青岛南部近海浮游桡足类群落特征与影响因子

根据2006年8月～2007年10月对青岛南部近岸海域进行的4个航次的调查,探讨了该海域浮游桡足类群落特征及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明:调查海域共出现浮游桡足类27种,占浮游动物总种类的27.85%。其中秋季种类最多,达24种;夏、春季分别为17种、10种;冬季最少,为8种。桡足类丰度年平均值为60.32ind/m3,其中秋季最高,达122.47ind/m3;春、冬季分别为68.48ind/m3、28.41ind/m3;夏季最低,为21.91ind/m3。从水平分布上看,春季桡足类丰度西部明显大于东部;夏季却呈现东部大于西部的趋势;秋季则是从近岸向远岸递减;冬季总体分布规律不明显,除站位ZD-QD255较高外,其它站位丰度相对较低。香农-威纳指数、均匀度指数、丰富度指数的平均最大值都出现在秋季。香农-威纳指数、均匀度指数平均最低值出现在冬季,而丰富度指数平均最低值出现在春季。     

Seasonality of Plankton Assemblages in a Temperate Estuary

Abstract. Synoptic measurements of temperature, salinity, nutrients, primary productivity, chlorophyll a, and abundance and composition of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and ichthyoplank-ton were made over an annual cycle on the Peconic Bay estuary (Long Island, New York, USA). There were pronounced seasonal fluctuations in all variables measured. During the warmer season, the plankton was dominated by nanophytoplankton (athecate microflagellates and chlorophytes, short chains of diatoms), small zooplankton (copepod nauplii, copepodites, and adults of small copepod species) and gelatinous carnivores (ctenophores and medusae). During the colder season, the plankton was dominated (in terms of primary productivity and chlorophyll a) by netplankton, larger zooplankton (adult copepods) and fish larvae. The winter bloom of apparent netplankton (> 20 μm fraction) was largely an artifact of the screening method employed, in that long chains of a diatom with small individual cell size (Skeletonema costatum) comprised 84.4–97.8% of the phytoplankton present. There was a significant negative relationship over the year between length of diatom chains and number of smaller zooplankton. For this reason, as well as initiation of the winter bloom during a period of declining levels of both light and zooplankton, inception of the bloom appeared more related to release of zooplankton grazing pressure than to illumination. Temporally offset pulses of ctenophores and other zooplankton during the warmer season suggest substantial predation by ctenophores. Apparent decimation of copepod populations by ctenophore predation in late summer and fall immediately preceeded inception of the winter diatom bloom. Larval Ammodytes americanus were the dominant ichthyoplankton, and these co-occurred in winter with increased abundances of larger adult copepods of species upon which A. americanus is known to feed. With certain modifications the patterns recorded for Peconic Bay corresponded to both of two generalized trophic pathways proposed by Greve & Parsons (1977) for temperate waters: nanoplankton → small zooplankton → gelatinous zooplankton carnivores or netplankton → larger zooplankton → young fish. The former pattern characterized the warmer season, and the latter the colder season. Comparison of patterns in Peconic Bay with those in some other temperate estuarine and coastal waters suggests similarity, particularly for estuaries of the northeastern United States.     

南沙群岛海区上层毛颚类的种类组成和丰度分布

根据南沙群岛海区1997年11月(秋季)、1999年4月(春季)和7月(夏季)3个航次的调查资料,对上层水域毛颚类的种类组成和丰度分布进行了分析。共鉴定毛颚类18种。秋、春、夏3个季节毛颚类平均丰度分别为(6.86±3.08)、(9.95±3.50)和(7.11±3.34)个/m³。肥胖软箭虫(Flaccisagitta enflata)、龙翼箭虫(Pterosagitta draco)和太平洋齿箭虫(Serratosagitta pacifica)是3个航次调查共有的优势种,肥胖软箭虫占绝对优势。调查海区毛颚类按其生态特征可分为暖水广布种、大洋性暖水种和暖水近岸种三个类群,前两者对毛颚类丰度分布起决定性作用。毛颚类丰度分布受东亚季风驱动的南海环流影响显著,在秋季东北季风期,毛颚类分布趋势为西高东低,高值区位于西南部,与海洋锋对应;在夏季西南季风期,毛颚类主要分布在西北部,与该区域存在的海洋锋和上升流密切相关。作为最主要的食物来源,桡足类丰度是影响南沙群岛海区毛颚类丰度变化的重要因素。     

生态浮床原位修复对海水养殖池塘浮游动物群落结构的影响

利用海马齿生态浮床技术原位修复海水养殖池塘,通过周期性监测试验池塘浮游动物群落结构种类组成、密度和生物多样性变化趋势,分析了浮游动物群落结构变化和养殖池塘水质改善之间的响应关系。结果表明:(1)生态浮床对养殖池塘水质和沉积环境都表现出良好的改善功能,表现为试验区较对照区,水体透明度明显增加,而TN、NH_(4-)~+N、TP、COD和底泥有机碳等污染物浓度均降低,其中TN、COD和底泥有机碳呈现出显著性降低(P0.05);(2)试验区浮游动物的种类相比对照区的34种增加到40种,趋于丰富;各次采样中试验区浮游动物的密度均高于对照区,平均由13559ind./L增加到15933ind./L;试验区的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H￠)和Margalef种类丰富度指数(D)均高于对照区,分别由初始的0.94和1.05提高到1.01和1.57。     

The impact of river flooding and high flow on the demersal fish assemblages of the freshwater-dominated Great Fish Estuary,South Africa

Freshwater inflow has a strong impact on the biological, chemical and physical characteristics of estuaries, which in turn affect the distribution and abundance of estuarine organisms. Increased climatic variability associated with climate change is predicated to modify precipitation patterns, which will likely intensify floods in estuaries. The demersal fish assemblage of the freshwater-dominated Great Fish Estuary, South Africa, was sampled using beam trawls, monthly, from December 2013 to November 2014. The first six months of the study were characterised by river flooding and high flow, with estuarine conditions found only in the mouth region; this was followed by six months of intermediate flow, with estuarine conditions recorded up to 10 km from the mouth. River flooding and subsequent reduced salinity resulted in a decrease in species richness and abundances of fishes in the estuary, with only two estuarine species (Glossogobius callidus and Psammogobius knysnaensis) and one marine migrant (Solea turbynei) recorded following river flooding (201 m³ s^?1), in January 2014. The greatest species richness and abundances among both marine and estuarine fishes were recorded during intermediate flow conditions. We conclude that although freshwater inflow into estuaries is important for the nursery function of these systems, flooding—especially in freshwater-dominated estuaries—may cause a temporary decline in the abundance of most marine and estuarine fish species, including important bentho-pelagic marine migrant fishery species, such as Argyrosomus japonicus and Pomadasys commersonnii.     

模拟水动力对湖泊浮游动物群落演替的实验研究

湖泊的浮游动物在种群演替和数量变化方面都有极明显的周期性(Chen et al., 1987)。浮游动物的周期性变化，除受湖泊环境温度、光照的周期性变化等因素外，同时还受到水体的水动力作用影响(陈伟民等，1998)。 王家楫等(1965)对东湖的轮虫数量进行了研究，陈受忠(1965)阐述了东湖近邻剑水蚤(Cyclops vicinus)、广布中剑水蚤(Mesocyclops leuckarti)、汤匙华指水蚤(Sinoialanub dorrii)、特异荡镖水蚤(Neutrodiaptomus incongreus)等都有显著昼夜垂直移动。Evans(1988)等在有关浮游动物的数量变动与水环境关系方面做了研究。但就水动力作用对浮游动物群落演替的实验研究较少见报道。 为研究水动力作用对浮游动物群落的种类数量变化，利用大型生态模拟槽，探讨不同水动力过程对浮游动物种类组成、数量变化过程和作用途径等，本文作者用模拟水动力的方法对湖泊浮游动物群落演替进行了实验研究，为今后的湖泊生态修复提供了科学依据。     

Spatial and long-term temporal variation of meiobenthic-hyperbenthic copepods in Lake Pontchartrain,Louisiana

The distribution and abundance of the meiobenthic-hyperbenthic copepods of Lake Pontchartrain (a large, 1630 km², shallow, mean depth of 3·7m, brackish, 0·3–5‰, lake in Southeastern Louisiana) were characterized monthly from August 1978 to August 1979. Ten stations, all with water depth > 2m, were established and sampled quantitatively by removing four benthic subsamples (containing as much as 25 cm overlying water) from replicated box cores. Averaged across stations over time, total copepod densities ranged from 31–89 × 10 cm^?2. A total of only 15 copepod species were identified from benthic samples; 8 harpacticoids, 4 cyclopoids and 3 calanoids. The copepod assemblage in Pontchartrain differs from all other known benthic assemblages in that the species composition is dominated by species which are often associated with the water column; true infaunal species are rare or found in reduced abundance. Four species comprised 90% of all individuals collected. All four are epibenthic or commonly collected as zooplankton and include Scottolana canadensis which comprised 47% of all individuals collected, Halicyclops fosteri which dominated fall collections, Acartia tonsa and Pseudobradya sp. Burrowing species were largely restricted to the more saline eastern stations. The rarity of burrowing species might be related to low salinity, however the highly unstable bottom in Pontchartrain with silty-clayey sediments commonly resuspended into the water column, may also influence burrowers. Cluster analysis reveals diffuse seasonal grouping of stations for all seasons except fall, with spatial groupings from the central and western sides. Physical processes appear to dictate the community structure of benthic-hyperbenthic copepods in Lake Pontchartrain.