Demersal zooplankton (DZ) consists of planktonic organisms that remain attached to the seabed during the day and migrate to the water column at night. To characterize this community, monthly sampling was conducted at three stations in the Turpialito reef zone, Gulf of Cariaco (Venezuela), during the upwelling (April-May) and relaxation (July-August) periods of 2017. Samples were obtained by trawling near coral formations (approximately 14 m deep) using an epibenthic skiff equipped with a 333 μm bongo-type net. The surface water temperature ranged from 21.5 to 26.2 °C, with no significant differences between the periods, while salinity varied between 26.3 and 37.3 psu, with the highest values during upwelling. The abundance of the decomposer zone (DZ) fluctuated between 36 and 1,225 individuals m⁻³ and showed significant differences between periods (p < 0.05), reaching the highest values during the relaxation period (x̄ = 664 individuals m⁻³). Twenty-five taxonomic groups were identified, with Branchiopoda and Calanoida Copepoda predominating. The results demonstrate the influence of the seasonal oceanographic dynamics of the Gulf of Cariaco on the structure of the DZ and suggest that the increase in its abundance during the relaxation period is associated with a greater availability of trophic resources. Furthermore, the epibenthic skimmer proved to be a useful tool for studying this community, although its performance requires further evaluation through future research.
