Abundance and biovolume of gelatinous zooplankton in Inner Ambon Bay during the northwest monsoon 2022

Gelatinous zooplankton (GZ) is a group of zooplankton that consists of various organisms-which have a vital role in marine ecosystems. This study aims to investigate the abundance and-biovolume of GZ, especially during the northwest monsoon season (February and March) in the inner-part of Ambon Bay. Zooplankton samples were obtained using a plankton net, towed vertically. Influences of environmental drivers on abundances and biovolumes were analyzed using the principal-component analysis (PCA) loading plot. Approximately 16 genera of zooplankton were found in the inner-waters of Ambon Bay, of which Thalia sp. was the dominant genus that occurred with highest-abundances and biovolume. The range of GZ abundance and biovolume were 0.71 to 106.86 ind m-3 and-0.05 to 1262.35 mm3 m-3 , respectively. Nutrients were found as the driver that governed the GZ community in Ambon Bay waters.