Spatio-temporal variations of the zooplankton abundance and composition in a West African tropical coastal lagoon (Grand-Lahou, Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Zooplankton constitutes a sensitive tool for monitoring environmental changes in coastal lagoons; however, the available information on zooplankton communities is not sufficient to optimize their rational management. The relationships between zooplankton distribution and environmental factors were studied in a tropical lagoon to test whether the indicator properties of zooplankton assemblages could be used to monitor water quality, in a context of expected eutrophication provoked by an increasing anthropogenic activity. Twenty-one (21) stations were sampled monthly from January to December 2004. The community was composed of 65 taxa including Copepoda, Rotifera, and Cladocera. Copepoda was the most abundant group (81% of total numbers). The main zooplankton species were Oithona brevicornis, Acartia clausi, and Brachionus plicatilis. The highest zooplankton abundance (171-175 ind. l -1 ) was recorded during the long, dry season (February-April) and the lowest (40-45 ind. l -1 ) during the rainy and the flood periods (June-July). At a spatial level, the lowest abundance was observed in the estuarine zone. During the dry seasons (December-April and AugustSeptember), marine zooplankton taxa were abundant near the channel of Grand-Lahou, and brackish water taxa dominated in the other sites. Multivariate analyses (Co-inertia) showed that the composition of zooplanktonic communities and their spatio-temporal variations were mainly controlled by salinity variations closely linked to the climatic and hydrological context. The role of the trophic state on zooplankton communities could not be clearly evidenced. Our results and a comparison with previous studies in the neighboring, highly polluted Ebrié Lagoon suggest that the ratio between Oithona and Acartia abundance could be used as biological indicator for the water quality.

Spatiotemporal variations of zooplankton community in a shallow tropical brackish lagoon (Sontecomapan, Veracruz, Mexico)

“…The taxonomic composition described in the present work is typical of brackish water zooplankton assemblages (Ferrari et al 1982;Arfi et al 1987;Étile et al 2009). It has also similar characteristics with other Mexican coastal lagoons of the Yucatan Peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico (Chelem lagoon, Escamilla et al 2001;Bojorquez lagoon, Álvarez-Cadena et al 1996;Nichupté lagoon, Álvarez-Cadena et al 2007).…”

Comparative analysis of rotifer community structure in five subtropical shallow lakes in East China: role of physical and chemical conditions

“…Trophic state is regarded as the most important characteristic of aquatic ecosystem (Andronikova, 1993) and has commonly been found to be important in determining the composition of rotifer communities. However, Etilé et al (2009) has suggested that the role of trophic state in determining the communities of zooplankton including rotifers has not been clearly demonstrated. Among the nutrients related to the trophic state, phosphorus is often a key factor in eutrophication studies as the most common limiting nutrient in freshwater lakes.…”

Ekologi Trofik Komunitas Ikan di Perairan Segara Menyan, Subang, Jawa Barat (Trophic Ecology of the Fish Community in Segara Menyan Coastal Lagoon, Subang, West Java)

“…Persediaan organisme makanan kelompok zooplankton yang tinggi di perairan diduga menjadi faktor yang mengakibatkan luas relung makanan menjadi rendah (Platell et al, 1998;Hajisamae et al, 2003;Hajisamae and Ibrahim, 2008;Etilé et al, 2009). Ketika pemangsa memanfaatkan mangsa yang berlimpah, luas relung makanan pemangsa tersebut menjadi sempit.…”