DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF ODONATA LARVAE IN SOME TROPICAL FISH FARM PONDS (SOUTHERN CÔTE D’IVOIRE, WEST AFRICA).
Michel Laurince YAPO*, Yalamoussa TUO (1), Mouhamadou Koné, Boua Célestin ATSE & Philippe KOUASSI
ABSTRACT
Diversity and distribution of Odonata larvae collected in some fish farm ponds of Southern Côte d’Ivoire were studied. In each pond, samples were collected in the water column using a 350 ?m mesh hand-net and in the sediment using a van Veen grab. Environmental variables such as transparency, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity were measured in situ. Water samples were taken and conducted to the laboratory where analyses of dissolved inorganic nutrients were carried out. A total of 11 taxa belonging to 3 families (Coenagrionidae, Libellulidae, and Gomphidae) were recorded. Odonata fauna was qualitatively dominated by Coenagrionidae and Libellulidae. Quantitatively this fauna was dominated by Coenagrionidae. Pseudagrion wellani was the most abundant taxa within the Odonata assemblage. Azaguié recorded the highest species richness and the highest abundance. This station recorded the maximum values of Shannon-Wiener diversity index and evenness. Odonata can be used as a potential instrument in future ecology studies in Ivorian aquatic ecosystems.
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