Response of Zooplankton Population to Environmental Forcing: Case of Southern and Northern Coasts of Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract

A comparative approach of hydrological variables in order to clarify the abundance and diversity of the zooplankton community was investigated on a spring cruise in the Northern and Southern coastal waters of Sfax coupled with water-quality. Environmental and zooplankton data were taken across the tidal front TF, covering well-mixed MZ and frontal interface FI waters. Zooplankton abundance, structure, specific composition and life histories were analyzed in relation to depth, temperature, salinity, orthophosphate, major and trace elements and chlorophyll-a. Zooplankton-specific composition did not vary across the different zones but, due to differences in relative abundance in Southern and Northern part.