Abstract :
Plankton studies are one of the major items of the marine scientific activities in the ROPME Sea
Area, whereas numerous investigations have been conducted on the plankton during the past century. For
phytoplankton, species composition, abundance and biomass, primary production, harmful algal blooms, red
tide, toxic species, and eutrophication were considered. Zooplankton studies included species composition
and abundance, certain zooplankton groups and few studies on certain species. The main achievement of these
studies was the identification of large number of phytoplankton and zooplankton species in different parts of
the RSA and estimation of their abundance.The survey of these studies revealed the occurrence of several gaps
in the plankton research in ROPME Sea Area. For example, the majority of these studies were carried out in
the inner part, while some of them were done in the middle part. Several studies were based on samples
collected once only during certain time of the year or on samples collected from localized areas. The role of the
function groups of the both phytoplankton and zooplankton, the harmful algal blooms, toxic phytoplankton
species, the role of small phytoplankton groups rather diatoms and dinoflagellates and vertical migration of
zooplankton were little concerned. In addition, the continuous record of the Indo-Pacific species entering the
inner RSA from the Sea of Oman appeared to be completely missed.The present study attempts to stress the
achievements as well as the gaps in the earlier plankton studies in the ROPME Sea Area in order to propose
a scientific plan for comprehensive study of plankton community relative to the prevailing environmental
conditions in the concerned area.
