A primer to the use of African ostracods in water quality assessment: taxonomy and ecology of non-marine Ostracoda (Crustacea) from Benin. (R-12889)

The supply of clean drinking water is one of the major concerns in Africa, including in Benin. The main source of drinking water in Benin is groundwater, although several human populations also have to rely on surface water for various uses. However, all these sources of water supply are in danger because of the present substandard strategies for monitoring and evaluation of water quality. There is thus an urgent need to develop effective strategies for the protection, conservation, quality control and planning of restoration programs of Benin waters. The current research proposes a twofold approach aiming (1) at studying the ecology and taxonomy of ostracods with the purpose to (2) assess their potential as bio-indicators for freshwater quality. The project will lay the groundwork for the development of water quality assessment procedures based on non-marine ostracods in Benin, using samples from (sub-) surface waters. The use of ostracods as indicators of water quality requires detailed knowledge of their taxonomy, ecology, distribution and biology. Several sampling campaigns will be carried out in wells, because of the importance of these water bodies for the life of riparian human populations and because of their ecotone aspect, sheltering faunal assemblages of both surface and subterranean species. Ostracod faunas and water samples will be collected for physical and chemical analyses. Taxonomic and ecological analyses of the ostracod communities will provide identification keys and information on the importance of abiotic drivers for ostracod biodiversity and community composition.

Keywords:(MULTI)POLLUTION, BIODIVERSITY, BIOREMEDIATION

Disciplines:Hydrogeology, Limnology, Animal ecology, Animal systematics and taxonomy, Invertebrate biology

Project type:Collaboration project