TITLE:
Study of the Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Zooplankton in the Estuary of the Fatala River, Boffa/Republic of Guinea
AUTHORS:
Aboubacar Sylla, Sory Diakite, Ahmed Guissé, Mamadou Djouldé Sow, Ibrahima Keita, Lamine Konaté, Mamady Bérété, Ansoumane Keita, Bouya Diop
KEYWORDS:
Estuary, Zooplankton, Spatio-Temporal Distribution, Copepods, Biomass, Density
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Marine Science,
Vol.16 No.4,
October
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: The present study took place during the hydrological season 2022-2023 (dry season, intermediate season and rainy season) in the estuary of the Fatala River. It aims to evaluate the spatio-temporal distribution of zooplankton organisms in the estuary of the Fatala River. The samples were taken at eight (8) fixed stations distributed along the estuary. The samples were collected using a plankton net. The results reveal the presence of 57 species, grouped into 41 genera, 27 families, 17 orders, 11 groups and 68,419.72 individuals. This population is largely dominated by the order of Calanoida (41%) and slightly dominated by the orders of Decapods, Cyclopods, Ctenopods, Spumellaria, Leptothecates, and Halocyprids (1%). Copepods are the most abundant group (52%), followed by Malacostraca (13.71%) and Sagittoides (7.07%). Total zooplankton density varies seasonally: it reaches a maximum in the shoulder season (29,742.96 ind/m3), decreases in the rainy season (26,785.82 ind/m3) and remains minimum in the dry season (11,890.94 ind/m3). Depending on the stations, the highest density (19,233.26 ind/m3) was recorded at station 5, while the lowest density (2329.44 ind/m3) was observed at station 3 (upstream), an area characterized by strong water agitation due to the meeting of two arms of the sea.