DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sajb.2025.v13i12.003

Pages: 1581-1588

The Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forest (TESF), located in southeastern Ivory Coast, is the largest remaining relatively intact swamp forest in the country and is adjacent to the Aby-Tendo-Ehy lagoon complex. However, this forest is subject to various anthropogenic pressures, including poaching, logging, and land clearing for family or industrial agriculture. Therefore, information on zooplankton is essential for monitoring and managing this ecosystem. The objective of this study was to investigate the physicochemical parameters of the environment that influence the diversity and distribution of planktonic fauna in the TESF. This study was conducted monthly from March 2012 to February 2013 at three sampling stations. Twenty-eight zooplanktonic taxa (distributed among 16 families and 20 genera) were recorded in the Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forest. Copepods constitute the most represented group (94.24%). They are followed by Rotifers (3.84%), Cladocera (1.03%), and the group of other organisms (0.89%). In all seasons, the total zooplankton is dominated by copepod nauplii (73.67–82.10%). Such seasonal nauplii dominance indicates continuous copepod reproduction within this wetland. This continuous copepod reproduction appears to be linked to the abundance of food in this habitat. The factors that strongly influence the distribution of organisms in this forest are temperature, dissolved oxygen, and depth. The majority of taxa recorded in the TESF are accidental and the presence of a lagoon taxon in this environment suggests that this forest is a refuge area for species from the adjacent Ehy lagoon. Protecting and sustainably managing this forest would help ensure the continuity of ecological exchanges and sustainably support local fishing activities.