Studies on freshwater zooplankton of Venezuela: Present and future perspectives

Abstract

Venezuela has a high diversity of freshwater habitats distributed in seven hydrographic basins. The great variety of conditions that influence them has allowed the development of extensive zooplankton assemblages and a high diversity of taxa. More than 400 zooplankton taxa have been taxonomically recognized within the groups of protozoa, rotifers (the most diverse), cladocerans, copepods, and ostracods. The ecological aspects of zooplankton have received relative great attention. The zooplankton dynamics have been mainly addressed through direct observation in the field and only a few of experimental studies. The presence of invasive species has also been documented. In general, it is considered that more research in specific areas should be encouraged to help improve the knowledge obtained. Efforts should be directed, mainly, to provide incentives that may increase the number of researchers dedicated to the study of freshwater zooplankton, to the establishment of standardized protocols for the application of modern methods of recognition of the species and analysis of ecological processes, effects of global climatic changes and local stressors to zooplankton and the realization of studies on biodiversity in high altitude regions and in particular, different types of aquatic locations with difficult access.