he study on the benthal fauna in Matita and Merhei lakes is based on a number of 172 qualitative and quantitative samples collected in two stages (June and September) from different regions of the two lakes and from different substrates; the processing of the biological samples permitted the identification of a number of 58 species from 18 supraspecific taxonomical groups: Hydrozoa, Spongia, Turbellaria, Nematoda, Nematomorpha, Polychaeta, Oligochaeta, Hirudinea, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Acarina, Ostracoda, Copepoda, Amphipoda, Cumacea, Mysidacea, Isopoda and Insecta. The invertebrate associations are structured into two major communities: the community of sedimentophile species and that of phytophile species. A relatively low number of species is cited as present in both basins, especially among the sedimentophile ones. However, the phytophile fauna is abundant in Matita, which is explained by the rich submersed vegetation.

zoobenthos; sedimentary and phytal fauna

Presentation: oral