Research Article
Kenfack Donhachi Aimér
Abstract
One of the major constraints in fish farming is the unavailability of good quality of fish fry which is highly dependenton zooplankton. For this purpose, a study on the taxonomic composition and distribution of zooplankton in ponds inthe high plains of Western Cameroon was carried out from January 2016 to December 2017. A total of 12 samples weremonthly collected in order to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of water and the diversity of zooplankton.Results on water quality showed that the significantly (p<0.05) higher values of temperature (21.64 ± 0.81°C) anddissolved oxygen (4.85 ± 1.54 mg/L) were observed with Wheat bran. For the zooplanktonic fauna, 39 species of which35 are identified in ponds fertilized with pig manure and 30 in fish ponds fed with Wheat bran. From these species,28 rotifers, 06 Cladocerans and 01 Copepods were identified in ponds fertilized with pig manure while 23 rotifers,06 cladocerans and 01 copepod in fishponds fed with Wheat bran. Species such as Notholca sp, Platyias sp, Alonarectangulata and Macrorhix laticornis were only represented in ponds fed Wheat bran (that is, a percentage of 10.26% ofthe specific total richness). Meanwhile, 8 species Brachionus urcealaris, Keratella cochlearis, Keratella cochlearis var type,Trichocerca similis, Polyarthra vulgaris, Filinia opoliensis, Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Diaphanosoma volzi were exclusivelyrepresented in areas fertilized with pig manure (that is, a percentage of 23.08%). Generally, the season did not affect thezoo planktonic distribution.