Free-living copepods of the Arabian Sea: Distributions and research perspectives

The subclass Copepoda consists of 10 orders and exhibit great diversity in morphology as well as the habitats they occupy. Within the orders themselve s, there are sometimes overlaps-some are free living or could be parasitic. There are approximately 11500 known species in this subclass. This paper b riefly outlines the distribution, abundances and general feeding habitats o f free-living copepods from the Arabian Sea. The role of taxonomy in biodiv ersity studies, estimates of grazing and production rates of copepods, diap ause and carbon fluxes through vertical migration and defecation are some p roblems which need to be addressed from this region.