Oghenekaro, E.U. and Chigbu, P., 2019. Population dynamics and life history of marine Cladocera in the Maryland coastal bays, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(6), 1225–1236. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

There is a paucity of information on the biology of Cladocera in coastal lagoons of the NE United States. The influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the abundance, distribution, and reproductive aspects of Cladocera were studied in Maryland coastal lagoons, a shallow, largely polyhaline, lagoonal system, with samples collected at 13 sites from February to December 2012. Pseudevadne tergestina (0–498 individuals [ind.] m^–3), Evadne nordmanni (0–246 ind. m^–3) and Pleopis polyphemoides (0–138 ind. m^–3) were the most abundant species; Evadne spinifera and Podon intermedius were rare. Cladocera were first observed in June at a mean abundance of 37.9 ± 20.7 ind. m^–3, which by July increased to 57.9 ± 57.8 ind. m^–3. Total Cladocera densities ranged from 0 to 752 ind. m^–3, which were lower than densities previously reported in river-dominated estuaries of the United States. Pseudevadne tergestina occurred mainly near the northern inlet; P. polyphemoides and E. nordmanni had more widespread distribution. Brood sizes ranged from 1 to 17 (E. nordmanni) and 1 to 19 (P. tergestina). The decline in Cladocera abundance in late summer when bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) abundance was high suggests a high predation effect by the fish species, although temperature and salinity were also identified as important factors that influenced Cladocera abundance and distribution in the bays.