Diversité spécifique et abondance des communautés de copépodes, cladocères et rotifères des lacs du complexe Ossa (Dizangué, Cameroun)

Abstract

The composition and the structure of the zooplankton of two lakes of the Ossa lake complex (Ossa and Mwembe) were studied between September 2009 and February 2010. 37 and 41 species of zooplankton were inventoried respectively in the lakes Ossa and Mwembe. The two environments are oligotrophic but subjected to the influence of the river Sanaga that brings them in swelling time new species. Mesocyclops leuckarti found in these lakes suggests the presence of this species on the African continent. The density of the zooplankton organisms increases between September and November and falls quickly in December, in accordance with a seasonal impact on communities. The physicochemical parameters do not differ significantly between the two environments and with the sampling depth. This justifies the value of 82 % obtained with the SÖRENSEN index. The structure of the populations of zooplankton is principally influenced by the season. The sampling depth, the month and the station do not influence this distribution.

Keywords

• zooplankton
• space-time variation
• species diversity
• abundance
• Ossa lakes complex Cameroon