Abstract:

The abundance and biomass of meiofauna were studied at B2 station in Jiaozhou Bay from 2003 to 2004. The result showed that the average abundance, biomass and production of meiofauna at B2 station in Jiaozhou Bay was 1889±609 ind.10cm-2, 1292.3±534.4 μg dwt?10cm-2 and 11630.4±4809.5 μg dwt?10cm-2?a-1 from 2003 to 2004, respectively. Significant seasonal changes of meiofauna abundance and biomass were observed. A total of 17 groups of meiofauna. Free living marine nematodes were the most dominant group. The average abundance of nematodes was 1801.82 ind.10cm-2, accounting for 95.4% of the abundance of meiofauna, with benthic harpacticoid copepods in the second, accounting for 2.2%. Correlation analysis showed that 0-2cm Chl-a content was the most important factor which affected the seasonal change of meiofauna abundance and biomass.