Zooplankton diversity and abundance in extensive fish ponds during the rearing of tilapia oreochromis niloticus juveniles fed with rice bran (West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire)

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of pond fertilization (using chicken droppings and rice bran treated or untreated) on the water quality as well as its effect on the composition, diversity and abundance of zooplankton organisms during an experimental culture of Oreochromis niloticus. A total of 30 zooplankton taxa were identified, belonging to four groups, 15 families and 17 genera plus some unspecified families and genera. Zooplankton abundance varied according to treatments, with highest values observed in ponds fertilized with chickens droppings and fermented rice bran (42-52 ind.l-1) and Mesocyclops sp., Thermocyclops neglectus, Moina micrura and Diaphanosoma excisum as main species.