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¹ Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, UFR-Biosciences, Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire
² Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Laboratoire d’Environnement et de Biologie Aquatique, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire
³ Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 1303 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire
⁴ Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, UFR-Biosciences, Laboratoire de Zoologie et Biologie Animale, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v14_3_07 Viewed : 4953 - Downloaded : 4219 Shrimps are essential components of freshwater ecosystems where they contribute to detritivorous roles and can comprise the majority of macro-invertebrate biomass. However, changes in some environmental characteristics strongly influence their diversity and abundance. Patterns of their community structure in relation to environmental characteristics were investigated in four shallow rivers in South East Côte d’Ivoire. Shrimp samples were taken monthly using a longhandled net. Three species (Desmocaris trispinosa, Macrobrachium thysi and M. raridens) were caught in this study. Overall, species diversity and abundance were lower in rivers receiving palm oil mill effluents (POME) in their catchment area. Highest abundances for the latter rivers were recorded downstream, farther to POME release point. Analysis of the correlation between community structure and environmental variables showed that conductivity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, percentage of mud, and pH were the environmental factors that strongly influenced spatial variation in shrimp abundance. D. trispinosa seemed to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, while M. thysi appeared more sensitive to disturbance of its environment. Keywords : Decapoda, diversity, abundance, palm oil mill effluents, West Africa