Impact of industrial discharges on the zooplankton community in the Messaieed industrial area,Qatar (Persian Gulf)

Zooplankton samples were collected from the Messaieed Marine Area that is subject to industrial and sewage discharge, thermal pollution, as well as oil loading and unloading activities. Copepods formed 74% of the zooplankton community followed by bivalves (7.6%) and Gastropod veligers (5.5%), Ostracods (4.7%) and Cladocera (3.4%). Industrial discharge not only impacted the total number of zooplankton but also species diversity. Diversity indices were higher for inner coastal waters. Pollution levels more than reduction in food source impacted the distribution of main zooplankton groups. The pollution stress changed the structure of zooplankton community rather than impacting the total population. Copepods showed resistance to oil pollution but were reduced in numbers at areas affected by oxygen demanding wastes. Polychaete larvae and Chaetognatha withstand elevated temperature, ammonia and pH levels.