Determination of Zooplanktons By Using Laser Counters: Challenges in Comparing Zooplankton Abundance Measurements Using Optical Plankton Counter and Traditional Net Samples

Abstract

Optical Plankton Counter (OPC) provides a method for easyand fast listing of zooplankton based on their body size. It is and can be usedin many marine environments and lakes. The OPC can be used to determine thesize and structure zooplanktons lakes. But many difficulties arise when wecompare OPC estimates of zooplankton abundance with traditional samples. OPCestimates can agree with, overestimate, or underestimate zooplankton abundanceand biomass compared with traditional net samples. Many causes can attribute todiscrepancies between net and OPC densities. Coincident counts, in which two ormore particles are counted together as one large particle, are considered to bea big problem.