Goswami,-S.C.; Goswami,-U.  Diel variation in zooplankton in 
	Minicoy Lagoon and Kavaratti Atoll (Lakshadweep 
	Islands). INDIAN-J.-MAR.-SCI. 1990. vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 
	120-124.

Diel variations in occurrence and abundance of zooplankton in 
the Minicoy lagoon and surrounding sea outside the coral reef 
at Kavaratti Atoll, Lakshadweep, were studied. Zooplankton 
standing stock (biomass) values showed wide variations in the 
lagoon compared to surrounding sea. Meroplankton constituted 
an important component of zooplankton community in the lagoon 
and nocturnal abundance was more pronounced. Copepods 
dominated the holoplanktonic forms. Copepod species diversity 
and equitability indices gave an inverse relationship with 
zooplankton biomass in the surrounding sea samples while 
direct relationship was obtained in the lagoon samples. 
Higher incidence of carnivorous pontellid copepods in the 
night collections was a characteristic feature which was not 
observed from lagoons elsewhere including the Lakshadweep 
archipelago.