Limnological studies on a shallow reservoir in western Venezuela (Tulé Reservoir)

Limnological features of Tulé Reservoir, a large and shallow reservoir in western Venezuela were studied from May 1992 to December 1993. This reservoir is polymictic, with a low water transparency. Levels of nitrogen were high and phytoplankton productivity was low. The phytoplankton productivity values may be explained by the low concentrations of orthophosphate during the larger part of the sampling period and the frequent mixing and resuspension of sediments. Heterotrophic bacteria were between 1651.67 and 4365.00 Colony-forming Units/ml. Species composition of the crustacean zooplankton community was similar to other neotropical eutrophic reservoirs.