Resumen de Los ostrácodos de la laguna de El Meleh (Túnez)

Francisco Ruiz Muñoz, Manuel Abad de los Santos, Edith Xio Mara García, F. Gueddari, A. Toumi, K. Dassy, R. Ben Ahmed

• The analysis of the ostracod faunas of El Meleh lagoon permits to delimitate the natural assemblages and the environmental impacts of the human actions. Three assemblages may be delimitated in the permanent waters: a) Marine, with a high diversity (Cytheridea neapolitana, Aurila convexa, Bairdia mediterranea, Pontocythere turbida, Xestoleberis communis) present near the artificial outlet; b) brackish, with very high densities of Cyprideis torosa; and c) degraded, located near the depuration station of SIimene. In the semipermanent waters, a fresh-water assemblage (llyocypris, Cyprinotus) was observed in the western area of the lagoon. A comparison with sub-recent samples indicates a progressive filling of the western part of the permanent water area, with the replacement of Loxoconcha elliptica by Cyprideis torosa.