Seasonality, reproductive biology and ecology of Mesopodopsis zeylanica (Crustacea: Mysida) from a tropical estuary (Cochin backwater) in India

Seasonal availability and population structure of Eurobowmaniella simulans W. Tattersall, 1915 (Crustacea: Mysida) along Vizhinjam coast, Kerala, India

“…E. simulans was found to be a euryhaline organism, and comparatively higher abundance of mysids (edge effect) were recorded in certain sites where small streams conjoins with the sea. The effect of salinity on mysid availability and distribution were well documented for some species by Baldo et al (2001), Bhattacharya (1982), Bhattacharya and Kewalremani (1972), Biju and Panampunnayil (2010) in their studies. Bhattacharya (1982) opined that the mysid, Mesopodopsis orientalis can tolerate from near freshwater condition to 60 ppt.…”

“…According to Brandt et al (1993) high concentration of ammonia, nitrate, phosphate together with low dissolved oxygen decrease mysid availability. Biju and Panampunnayil (2010) reported a higher productivity in Cochin backwaters during monsoon due to nitrogenous input due to monsoon river flow and a subsequent variation in abundance and distribution of mysid Mesopodopsis zeylanica. Spotte (1979) proposed that the limits for nitrogenous waste levels for most marine animals should follow: < 0.10 mg/l ammonia, < 0.10 mg/l nitrite and < 20.00 mg/l nitrate.…”

Seasonal and developmental variability of biochemical composition in Mesopodopsis zeylanica (Crustacea: Mysida) from Cochin estuary, India

“…Mysids form an important component of zooplankton and play an important ecological role in the food web of an ecosystem. Mesopodopsis zeylanica (Nouvel) is the most widely distributed mysid in the Indian and Sri Lankan waters (Hanamura et al, 2008;Biju & Panampunnayil, 2010). As an energy converter at different trophic levels, significance of mysids in the ecosystem has been greatly underestimated.…”

“…Whether it is marine or brackish, they form food for fishes and crustaceans (George, 1958;Rao, 1970;Bhattacharya & Kewalremani, 1972;Jhingran, 1975;Mauchline, 1980). It is an abundant species in the Cochin backwater and their population reproduces continously and exhibits a clear seasonal pattern (Biju & Panampunnayil, 2010). Therefore, the analysis of biochemical composition in mysids is important, to understand the nutritional value and flow of energy at different trophic levels.…”

“…As an energy converter at different trophic levels, significance of mysids in the ecosystem has been greatly underestimated. Even though Biju & Panampunnayil, (2010) studied the reproductive biology and ecology of M. zeylanica, information on biochemical composition of this species is not available. Seasonal variation in body composition yields information which is useful in the understanding of a population ecophysiology (Lehtonen, 1996).…”