BENTHIC MACROFAUNA OF TAVROPOS RESERVOIR (CENTRAL GREECE)

The study revealed a mature reservoir with a balanced benthic communit y rich in chironomid species. Dominant species in numbers and frequenc y of occurrence were Tanypus punctipennis, Procladius (Holotanypus), L imnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Chironomusplumosus and Dreissena polymorpha, which classified the system as an oligotrophic Tanypus type. The litto ral zone was dominated by T. punctipennis followed by Cladotanylarsus mancus. The chironomid P. (Holotanypus) prevailed in the profundal and the oligochaete L. hoffmeisteri in the zone of the second thermal str atification (12-15 m). The mean total population density was relativel y low (618 individuals/m2). Benthic population density showed a sigmoi dal curve with depth increase, typical of oligotrophic lakes. Chironom ids dominated the littoral zone. Species diversity and richness declin ed with depth.