Zooplankton Biodiversity of Minas Gerais State: a Preliminary Synthesis of Present Knowledge
ESKINAZI-SANT’ANNA1, E.M.; MAIA-BARBOSA2, P.M.; BRITO2, S. & RIETZLER2, A.C.
1 UFRN/Centro de Biociências/Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia. Via Costeira, s/n. 59014-100. Natal – RN. eskinazi@ufrnet.br
2 UFMG/Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Biologia Geral. Setor de Ecologia. Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha - 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG.
ABSTRACT: In this preliminary synthesis of the present state of knowledge of zooplanktonic biodiversity in Minas Gerais a survey was done through bibliographic consultation of the inventory of zooplanktonic species in several aquatic ecosystems. A total of 551 species were listed, represented by 151 Protozoa taxa, 300 Rotifera, 68 Cladocera, 30 belonging to Copepoda and 02 of insect larvae. Our analysis indicate that the ecological studies that contemplate the taxonomic diagnosis of the zooplankton are concentrated specially in the aquatic ecosystems situated in the hydrographic basins of the São Francisco, Grande and Doce Rivers while in other important hydrographic basins of the State such as Paranaíba and Jequitinhonha Rivers very incipient information from zooplanktonic inventory has been found. Some information gaps in the record of zooplanktonic species (specially Protozooplankton and Ostracoda) have limited a deeper knowledge on the species richness. Studies targeted at estimating zooplanktonic species from ecosystems and groups still not well investigated should be included in future ecological research initiatives as a means to amplify and deepen the knowledge of zooplanktonic diversity and conservation state of aquatic ecosystems of Minas Gerais.
Key-words: zooplankton, biodiversity, Minas Gerais.