Temporal changes in the mean individual size and in the abundance of taxonomical groups of different size of mesozooplankton (200-2000 µm) were investigated in samples collected in the shelf waters of A Coruña (N Spain) since 1988. An overall decreasing trend in the average size of individuals, indicated by the biomass (dry weight) to abundance ratio was observed. Most of this decrease can be attributed to the increase in the dominance of copepods of small size ( 1 mm) were found. Indeed, some species of large size showed increasing trends in abundance during the study period. Nevertheless these trends were small at linear scales and most species did not show significant linear trends during the study period. The observed trends in zooplankton were related to weak changes in sea surface temperature and upwelling intensity during the studied period. This suggests that the effects of the general warming of the surface ocean on plankton are weakened in regions of coastal upwelling.IEO (RADIALES
