New invertebrates

Copepod abundance and diversity

Copepods are small crustaceans, relatives of the crabs and lobsters, but abundant and diverse in the oceans. There are about 3,000 species of copepods in European waters, and they account for almost 10% of all species contained in the European Register of Marine Species. Copepods are typically the dominant group of multicellular animals in the plankton, but they are also found on and in marine sediments. In the marine sediments they are usually the second most abundant group, after the nematodes.

MarBEF scientist have discovered a whole new copepod genus called Marbefia