COPEPODS: MAIN ZOOPLANKTERS IN ADMIRALTY BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

Abstract

Copepods have a major role in zooplankton communities worldwide and are very important in Polar ecosystems; they form the base of the trophic web, contributing through accumulation of great energy reserves. For this work, fifty five samples were collected in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica during the summer of 2009. A total of 15,328 copepods were sorted, Rhincalanus gigas, Macrosetella gracilis, Clausocalanus sp. and another five taxa were identified.