Species of Demersal Zooplankton Inhabiting a Kelp Forest Ecosystem off Santa Catalina Island, California

Abstract

Demersal zooplankton are those animals that migrate at various times between the benthic and pelagic environments. Previous studies have concentrated on coral reef habitats (e.g. Emery, 1968; Porter, 1974; Alldredge and King, 1977; Porter and Porter, 1977; Porter et al., 1977; Hobson and Chess, 1979; Ohlhorst and Hutchinson, 1979). Inverted funnel traps were used by Thomas and Jelley (1972) to study demersal zooplankton in an estuarine ecosystem. King and All- dredge (1978) reported on the emergence patterns of demersal zooplankton from a subtidal sand-flat. Diel changes in zooplankton composition over an intertidal eelgrass flat were monitored by Robertson and Howard (1978).