Biodiversity and spatial distribution of copepods community in the south coast of Sfax city (Tunisia)

The present study, conducted in winter 2008 at 20 stations in the south coast of Sfax, covered the spatial distribution of the physic-chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, orthophosphate, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite) and planktonic copepods. The orthophosphate and ammonium were higher than those reported for the near-shore of the Gulf of Gabès. Copepods were the most abundant zooplankton present during the entire study period, comprising 66% of the total zooplankton community. Four copepod orders were identified, with a high percentage of cyclopoida (64% of copepods) with the prevalence of Oithona nana followed by Harpacticoïda (24%) dominated by Euterpina acutifrons. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index values show that the study site is under the influence of pollution stress or eutrophication, human pressure and industrial activities. Thus, a combination of physicochemical and biological analysis is a good way to screen overall environmental circumstances.