ZOOPLANKTON OF LAKE QAROUN (FAYOUM - EGYPT) DURING 1996

ZOOPLANKTON OF LAKE QAROUN (FAYOUM – EGYPT)

DURING 1996

By
ADEL A. A. MAGEED*
*Nationallnstitute o/Oceanography and Fisheries, Cairo, Egypt
Key Words: Protozoa, RotiJera, Copepoda, Meroplankton, ZooplankJon, Lake Qaroun.
ABSTRACT
The present work dealt with the status of zooplankton ofLake
Qaroun during 1996. Twelve cruises were carried out during January
– December, 1996 at five stations in Lake Qaroun, the samples were
collected vertically using a standard plankton net (55
micrometers).
The results revealed that Lake Qaroun is an eutrophic lake, it is
very rich with zooplankton.
Holoplanktonic groups were represented by Protozoa, Rotifera
and Copepoda whereas the larvae of Oligochaeta, Polychaeta,
Cirripedia and Mollusca represented the Meroplanktonic groups.
Ostracoda was represented by only one species (Cyprideis torosa ).
Cladocera was obscured totally from -the lake.
Protozoa was the most diverse group, while Rotifera was the most
dominant group during most of the twelve cruises. The hot months
harbored the highest density of zooplankton due to the dominance of
Brachionus plicatilis. All the zooplankters of Lake Qaroun are marine
forms.