Assessment of zooplankton species composition along Tudor Creek in Mombasa County

Zooplankton play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as primary consumers and as a critical link in the transfer of energy through food webs. Tudor Creek, located to the northwest of Mombasa Island, Kenya (latitude 3° 59' 33" S, longitude 39° 38' 34" E) and extends some 10 km inland. The shallow channels, mud-banks and mangrove forests, represents a significant marine ecosystem where zooplankton communities thrive. This study aimed to assess the species composition of zooplankton along Tudor Creek to better understand the ecological dynamics of this vital waterway to assess the impact of climate change.

Random sampling was conducted at six stations along Tudor Creek during the onset of the rainy season in the month April 2023 using plankton nets with varying mesh sizes to capture different size classes of zooplankton. Water quality parameters such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured concurrently with zooplankton sampling to assess environmental conditions. The results revealed a diverse assemblage of zooplankton species inhabiting Tudor Creek. Dominant taxa were copepods, Brachyura zoea, Caridean and Sagitta respectively, with varying abundances observed at different sampling sites. Additionally, the study identified temporal and spatial variability in zooplankton community composition, potentially influenced by environmental factors such as tidal currents and anthropogenic inputs.

Understanding the zooplankton community structure along Tudor Creek provides valuable insights into the health and functioning of this ecosystem. Further investigations integrating long-term monitoring and ecosystem modeling are warranted to elucidate the drivers of zooplankton dynamics and their implications for ecosystem health and resilience in relation to climate change.