BIOMASS, PRODUCTION, AND TURNOVER RATE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN LAKE MANZALA (SOUTH MEDITERRANEAN SEA, EGYPT)

BIOMASS, PRODUCTION, AND TURNOVER RATE OF
ZOOPLANKTON IN LAKE MANZALA (SOUTH
MEDITERRANEAN SEA, EGYPT)
ADEL ALI A. MAGEED
101 Kasr Al Ainy St., Cairo, Egypt
E. mail: [email protected]
Keywords: Zooplankton, biomass, secondary production, turnover rate, Lake Manzala.
ABSTRACT
Biomass, production, and biomass turnover rate (productivity, P/B) of zooplankton
were calculated from monthly zooplankton samples in Lake Manzala to estimate the
carrying capacity of zooplanktivore fish. The estimated mean biomass was 0.158 g Carbon
m
-3. Spring followed by summer was the highest productive seasons due to the flourishing
of rotifers during this period. The mean secondary production in Lake Manzala was 4.198 g
C m-3 Yr-1. This production can increase zooplanktivore yield in Lake Manzala by 24.13 %
of the actual total catch of the fish yield per year.