In this paper the results of zooplankton investigations (and its dominant group Copepoda) were presented from the part of the Boka Kotorska Bay with more intensive circulation with the open sea, from summer of 2005. Some results from the open South Adriatic were given, too - from the frontal zone exposed to anthropogenic eutrophication of Bojana and Drim rivers, and the impact of oligotrophic South Adriatic, simultaneously.

The paper presents the seasonal overview of horizontal distribution and abundance for the species of genus Oithona in Bokokotorski Bay. Three species have been recorded. Oithona helgolandica and Oithona plumifera have a wide horizontal distribution within the Adriatic Sea, while Oithona nana is a typical euritherm and eurihaline form that occupies shallow and closed coastal areas along the eastern coast of Adriatic. Also presented are seasonal oscillations and quantitative presence of these species in the Copepoda population during 2002.

Studies of the plankton copepods also included the area of continental shelf and the Southern Adriatic deep valley with pronounced ocean characteristics. The deep waters of Southern Adriatic are inhabited by numerous species of all depth zones, with a pronounced domination of ocean forms, similar to the Mediterranean. The quantity of copepods in the area of open surface waters shows a pronounced spring maximum of abundance. The abundance of overall copepod population decreases from the shore toward the open sea of Southern Adriatic valley, with an increase of species abundance in plankton. That area is governed by stenothermal and stenohaline conditions. The Copepoda community is characterized by stenothermic and stenohaline species. Ranges of many of these are not increased horizontally toward the northern parts of Adriatic, and the individuals carried north by water currents quickly die.