DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF THE AQUATIC ENTOMOFAUNA ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN THE HAUT-BANDAMA WILDLIFE RESERVE AREA OF THE BANDAMA RIVER (CENTRE-NORTH, COTE DIVOIRE)

Abstract

The section of the Bandama River located in Haut-Bandama Wildlife Reserve was subject to several pressures induced by the anthropic activities that take place there. These activities could have impacts on the structure of biological communities such as aquatic insects which are indicators of the state of the ecological integrity of the environment. This study was conducted to evaluate the diversity and structure of the aquatic entomofauna of this part of Bandama River. Sampling was conducted from January 2018 to February 2019 at 06 sites defined according to the upstream-downstream gradient of the river. Insects were collected using a handled net and aVan Veen bucket. The inventory identified 127 species from 53 families and 10 orders. In this part of Bandama River, the order Hemiptera was the most prevalent with 30 species. The taxa Gerisella sp. (31% of individuals), Dineutus sp. (55%), and Laccophilus sp. (38%) wereabundant in the upstream, median and downstream sections of Bandama River respectively. Also, 33 species were common to all stations. Thraulus sp. AndLispe sp. wereonly found at station BYB, located downstream of this sectionof Bandama River. The distribution of entomofauna was influenced by pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, speed, depth and temperature. The entomological populations in this part of the Bandama River were well diversified and with awell balanced organisation.