Etude qualitative du zooplancton dans les eaux du barrage de Sidi Salem

Abstract

The zooplankton samples of Sidi Selem reservoir (North of Tunisia) obtained by vertical training (0-5m) have been studied monthly. The total density of zooplankton varied around an average of 80 ind/l from a maxima of 193 and 191 ind./l (August) and the minima of 0,5 ind./l (December). The species composition is poor (17 species). It is characterised by the abundance of copepods (51%), mainly the species of Copidodiaptomus numudicus, Arctodiaptomus salinus, and cladocerans (43%) essentially represented by Diaphanosoma brachyurum. The variation of specific diversity with seasons and stations has proved that ecology of the reservoir is characterised by space (mouth of river-reservoir center) and temporal gradual evolution from lotic facies to limnic facies