Diversity and structure of zooplankton in a tropical traditional aquaculture system "Whedos" in Ouémé river high delta (Benin, West Africa)

The objective of this study is to assess the diversity and the abundance of zooplankton community in a tropical traditional aquaculture system "whedos" in the Oueme river delta. Thirty taxa were collected from the present study: Copepoda (6 taxa), Cladocerans (4 taxa), Rotifera (16 taxa) and other zooplanktonic organisms (3 taxa). Zooplankton richness observed in the whedos depends on type of treatment. The lowest values were registered in the control whedos (W0, no treatment) (13 taxa) while the most important richness were observed in the experimental whedos of compensatory overeating essay (W4 and W5) (17-22 taxa). Zooplankton community is characterized by the Cladocerans dominance (41% of the total abundance), followed by the Rotifera (23%) and the Copepoda (20%). The most important abundances were recorded in the whedos of Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus co-culture (W1: 93.37 ind.L-1; W2: 200 ind.L-1) with respectively as food the skretting and a local feed.