Biodiversity of Pelagic Copepod in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

A total of 265 copepod species belong to 70 genera, 33 families and 5 orders were identified during 4 surveys in the study area. Copepod diversity varied significantly in different seasons, and the distribution patterns were quite different between Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Species richness, evenness and taxonomic diversity were significantly higher in East China Sea, whereas taxonomic distinctness was significantly higher in the Yellow Sea. Based on the present surveys combined with previous studies, the master list of pelagic copepods in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were set up, and its hierarchical diversity was analyzed. Total Taxonomic Distinctness (s Delta(+)) in four seasons were calculated. Funnel plots with 95% confidence limits for both Average Taxonomic Distinctness (Delta(+)) and Variation in Taxonomic Distinctness (Delta(+)) and the ellipse plots with 95% probability contours for the joint distribution of Delta(+) and of the pelagic copepods master list of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were established, and the theoretical mean value of Delta(+) is 84.3.