MARINE ISOPOD BIODIVERSITY OF THE INDIAN-RIVER LAGOON, FLORIDA

Twenty-one species of free-living isopods, and six species of parasiti c bopyrids are recorded from the Indian River Lagoon. The distribution of this fauna bears out the zoogeographically transitional nature of the area, but also emphasizes its strong subtropical affinities. The s easonal abundance of the three most common species in Halodule seagras s beds, viz. Erichsonella attenuata, Harrieta faxoni, and Edotea monto sa suggests that the various regions of the Indian River Lagoon are no t biologically closely coupled, and that seasonal predation pressure m ay account for lowered numbers during the summer months.