ZOOPLANKTON IN THE FLOODPLAINS OF A TRIBUTARY TO THE PARANA RIVER IN MATO-GROSSO DO SUL, BRAZIL

Zooplankton samples were taken monthly at five sites March 1992 throug h February 1993 of the Guarana lake and Baia river in the Parana flood plain, Brazil. A total of 38 cladoceran and 12 copepod species was ide ntified. Cladocerans were mainly collected amongst macrophytes in the lake. The most commonly encountered species were Bosminopsis deitersi, Moina minuta, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, Ilyocryptus spinifer, Macrothrix spinosa, and Phryxura dadayi. The copepods were especially collected i n the river with Thermocyclops minutus and Mesocyclops meridianus bein g abundant. The greatest number microcrustacean species was detected d uring the high water period. Possible ecological conditions for the re corded distribution and abundance are discussed and compared with data from other study sires in the Neotropics.