Copepoda and Branchiopoda from Tunisian temporary waters

Souad Turki^1* and Brahim Turki²

¹Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer. INSTM Centre La Goulette. Port de pêche, 2060 La Goulette, Tunisie.

²Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer. 28 rue du 02 mars 1934, 2025 Salammbô, Tunisie.

*Corresponding author. E-mail:  Souad.turki@instm.nrnt.tn.

Fax: +216 71 735 848.

Accepted 8 September, 2009

    Abstract

Copepoda and Branchiopoda from Tunisian temporary waters were collected from 92 sampling stations along five distinct areas, namely the Northern, the Medjerda, the Cap Bon-Miliane, the Central and the Southern basins during the wet season (October to March) throughout the period 1994 - 1997. The aim of the present survey is to update and increase the knowledge on species diversity and richness in Tunisian temporary waters. The community comprised of 32 Copepoda, 32 Cladocera, 7 Anostraca, 2 Notostraca and 2 Spinicaudata. The recorded fauna has two origins ; Ethiopian and Palaearctic. Several taxa have a strictly Mediterranean range, but among the cladocerans and cyclopoids, cosmopolitan species were also collected. The highest cladoceran species richness was recorded in central Tunisian basin (27 species). Copepods were well diversified in the Medjerda basin (18 species). Anostraca, Notostraca and Spinicaudata exhibited restricted occurrence to Central and Cap Bon-Miliane basins. Cladoceran species dominated the community in the Oued Bouguel basin. The study confirms the existence of 8 newly recorded species in these specific ecosystems.

Key words: Copepoda, Branchiopoda, temporary waters, richness, diversity, Tunisia.