Mesh size effects on assessments of planktonic hydrozoan abundance and assemblage structure

The choice of appropriate mesh-size is paramount to accurately quantify planktonic assemblages, however there is no such information available for hydrozoans. Here planktonic hydrozoan abundance and assemblage structure were compared using 200 and 500μm meshes at Babitonga estuary (S Brazil), throughout a year cycle. Species richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity were higher in the 200μm mesh, while evenness was typically higher in the 500μm. Assemblage structure was significantly different between meshes (PERMANOVA, P