Zooplankton diversity in Acre state, Amazon, Brazil: an overview of previous studies

Abstract

This work assesses current knowledge of zooplankton biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems of the state of Acre (Brazil). A bibliographic survey was undertaken, showing that most of the reported studies have focused on zooplankton diversity and composition. Fifteen locations have been studied. There is still a scarcity of information concerning zooplankton populations in the Amazon region. To date, 170 species of planktonic rotifers have been recorded, distributed in 26 families and 38 genera, together with 18 species of cladocerans, distributed in 8 families and 18 genera, and 4 species of copepods in 2 families and 6 genera. The results indicate the need for further research concerning the biodiversity of this group of organisms at locations in the basins of the Purus and Juruá Rivers, especially in lotic ecosystems and littoral zones, given the present lack of information and the socioeconomic importance they play in the region.