Seasonal Variation in the Abundance of the Demersal Copepod Pseudodiaptomus sp. (Calanoida, Pseudodiaptomidae) in the Seomjin River Estuary, Southern Korea

We conducted a year-long survey in 2000 to examine seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of the demersal copepod Pseudodiaptomus sp., the dominant copepod in the Seomjin River estuary, where the spring tide strongly affects changes in salinity gradients. Pseudodiaptomus sp. was found throughout the year in the entire range of salinities measured, but most individuals appeared at oligohaline conditions below 5.0 psu, and less than $2\%$ were observed in polyhaline conditions above 18.0 psu. The peak abundance occurred during autumn in oligohaline waters, and the density was relatively low during the rainy season in summer. In spring and autumn, copepodites were most abundant in oligohaline waters, although they were also fairly abundant in mesohaline conditions $(5\~18\;psu)$. Females with egg sacs appeared in oligo- and mesohaline waters during spring and autumn but were seldom found in polyhaline conditions throughout the year. Our results indicate that, despite the strong physical influence of the tide, Pseudodiaptomus sp. can manipulate its position to remain at its preferred salinity. We also found that spawning mainly occurred in oligohaline waters twice a year.