Structure and spatial distribution of the rotifer assemblages along a tropical reservoir

Abstract The construction of reservoirs is a common practice in the world. These systems modify hydric landscape and alter flow rivers, becoming lotic environments lentic. Here we investigated structure spatial distribution rotifers along tropical reservoir. We sampled four points Pedra do Cavalo Reservoir, Bahia, Brazil, bimonthly, between August 2014 June 2015. registered more than 70 taxa distributed 17 families, with majority species belonging to Lecanidae, Brachionidae Trichocercidae families. rarefaction curve did not achieve total asymptote, indicating that richness reservoir higher what was registered. Based frequency occurrence, identified 48 rare species, 16 five constant one frequent species. highest beta diversity values were riverine P1 (0.513) intermediate P2 (0.503), although there no significant differences sampling points. Despite high abundance P1, P3 found studied Thus, this study substantially increases knowledge on rotifer community Paraguaçu River contributes future studies focus biodiversity, ecology conservation Brazilian ecosystems.