RECENT NONMARINE OSTRACODA FROM JAMAICA, WEST-INDIES

Ostracods were sampled qualitatively at 22 sites from 15 waterbodies i n the western part of Jamaica and determinations of the water chemistr y and habitat characteristics were made at each locality. Most of the ostracods found belong to the Cypridinae, Cypridopsinae, Cyclocypridin ae and Darwinulidae. There is a clear distinction between the faunas f ound in the larger, permanent lakes and the smaller ponds. The latter are subject to large fluctuations in volume and may desiccate either s easonally or interannually. Within the largest lake, Wallywash Great P ond, there is some degree of spatial zonation in the ostracod faunas t hat appears to be related to water depth and aquatic macrophyte occurr ence. The distribution of modern ostracods within Wallywash Great Pond suggests that the late Quaternary faunal sequence from this lake is p rimarily a function of lake-level changes.