A review of systematics, distribution and ecology of tropical freshwater zooplankton

B. H. Dussart 1, C. H. Fernando 2, T. Matsumura-Tundisi3 & R. J. Shiet2

1 StationBiologique, Les Eyzies, France
2 Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
3 Departemento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Slw Carlos, Brazil

Keywords: tropical zooplankton, systematics, distribution, ecology review

Abstract

Studies on tropical freshwater zooplankton which commenced in the mid-19th century have been
intensified during the past twenty years or so. The whole region, barring a few areas, has been investigated,
including very recently tropical Australia. The widely scattered literature is briefly summarized with com-
ments. Some general distributional patterns are emerging. There is a dearth of ecological studies especially on
seasonality and production. Systematics lags behind the North Temperate zone in most tropical regions.

Introduction ecology of zooplankton in tropical, sub-tropical

Studies on all aspects of tropical zooplankton
have lagged far behind, especially in the North
Temperate zone. During the last ten years or so,
however, the mostly fregmentary data on systemat-
ics, distribution and ecology of tropical zooplank-
ton have at times been brought together at least on a
national basis in Asia, Africa, and South America.
Systematic work has spread to cover most tropical
regions, though notable gaps exist in Australia and
New Guinea (Australasia) and some other tropical
countries: Burma, Laos and Kampuchea (Asia),
some regions of tropical Africa and most of the
Caribbean. In addition to regional and national
studies, world monographs enabling accurate spe-
cies diagnosis on small or large groups of zooplank-
tonic organisms are now available for the Rotifera,
Cladocera and Cyclopoida. These studies vary
from region to region and from group to group. The
most unevenly known are the Calanoida which are
restricted in their distribution. Minor zooplankton-
ic groups like Protozoa, Chaoborinae and Ostrac-
oda are also still poorly known systematically.
In this presentation we will deal with the state of
our knowledge of systematics, distribution and
and to a lesser extent, sub-temperate regions. At the
present time it is perhaps more satisfactory to deal
with systematics and distribution on a regional ba-
sis, i.e. Africa, America, and Australia, because
most of the studies are regional or national and
because each author has special knowledge of one
region only.
The geographic areas where studies have been
made are shown in Fig. I. The area covered is
considerable in relation to the total area of land
between the tropics (i.e. 23°N-23°S). However,
many studies have been based on only a few collec-
tions or are restricted to one group of zooplankton
(e.g. Cyclopoida, Calanoida, Chydoridae).
A problem is the designation of 'tropical'. We
have used this to cover the area between the tropics
(i.e. 23°N-23°S). However we have reviewed some
studies in ecology made outside these areas because
of the lack of literature in this field. Strictly speak-
ing altitude must be taken into account when con-
sidering 'tropical' climates. At the present time we
have not converted altitude to latitude in consider-
ing distribution of zooplankton.
In dealing with the four continents with true
tropical regions, we have not attempted a strict

Hydrobiologia 113, 77-91 (1984).

© Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague. Printed in the Netherlands.
78
0 4000
Fig. I. Distribution of study areas for zooplankton in the !attitudinal zone 23°N-23°S.
uniformity. The state of knowledge is different in
each ofthese areas. Australasia is the least known.
There is much work done in Africa but the strictly
tropical regions have not been intensively investi-
gated and few broad-based studies exist even at the
national level. The South American and Australa-
sian work is relatively recent and is therefore treat-
ed slightly more extensively. Some Asian work has
been summarized before on a national and areal
basis and this area is also the best investigated in
systematics, distribution and ecology. Hence the
treatment of Asia is more brief.
Africa
Systematics
The study of tropical freshwater zooplankton
commenced at the end of the 19th century. The
relative proximity to Europe and the mounting of
expeditions were the prime reasons for the accumu-
lation of knowledge in the 20th century.
There is scattered literature dealing with the Af-
rican zooplankton. Much of this work however is in
Mediterranean and sub-temperate regions ofN orth
Africa and South Africa. If we restrict ourselves to
Km
the region 23°N-23°S there is much less concentra-
tion of studies. The following are the more exten-
sive, recent or less known studies. Dumont ( 1979)
has lisited much of the African work. The other
studies which fall into the categories stated are as
follows: Brunel1i & Cannicci ( 1938), Daday ( 191 0),
Dumont eta/ (1981), Dussart (1974, 1977, 1980,
1982), Einsle ( 1971 ), Fryer ( 1957), Gauthier ( 1939,
1951 ), Green ( 1962a, b, c), Gurney ( 1928), Harding
( 1942), Kiefer ( 1928, 1933, 1952, 1956, 1981, 1982),
Kiss (1960), Lindberg (1950a, b, c, 195la, b),
Lowndes(l930, 1936), Marques(l958, 1961,1963,
1966), Onabamiro (1952, 1957), Rzoska (1968,
1974), Rzoska, Brooke & Prowse (1955), Sars
( 1909) and Van de Velde ( 1978). Proszynska ( 1967)
has provided a bibliography oft he crustacean zoop-
lankton of African inland waters. Moreover, Dus-
sart (1982b) has described the Copepod fauna of
Madagascar.
Specifically dealing with Rotifers are the papers
of Beauchamp (1955), Green (1960a), Pourriot
(1968, 1980) and Ridder (1981).
There are relatively few studies covering even one
order of zooplankton organisms comprehensively
for any country. Only a few studies can be consi-
dered in the category: e.g. Dumont ( 1979), Gauthier
(1951) and Jeje (1982).