Variation in the overall abundance and number of jellyfish species were recorded at each station during the 6 research cruises (Fig. 5a–f). In total, no jellyfish were observed in 8 of the 36 samples. The total density of the jellyfishes ranged from 0 to 543.25 individuals/m3 (St 5, October 2008). The highest number of identified species was 8 species per station (St 2, April 2008). The spatial distribution of jellyfishes without clear patterns in the investigated areas was evaluated : theme an total abundance, number of species(Fig. 5g), and indices of richness, diversity, and evenness(Fig. 5h) ariedamongeachresearchcruise.Themean
jellyfish densityinmostresearchcruiseswaslessthan5
individuals/m3. ThepeakabundancewasobservedduringOc-
tober2008(167.25794.96 individuals/m3), althoughthelowest
number ofspecieswasidentified then(0.8370.4 speciesper
station) (Fig. 5g). Similarly,amongthe6researchcruises,the
lowestrichness(0.1370.07), diversity(0.00970.006),andeven-
ness (0.03870.019)indiceswereobservedinthesamplescol-
lected duringOctober2008