ABSTRACT

Although Mediterranean wetlands were recognized as biodiversity hotspots, most of them are nowadays threatened by human activities that have led to habitat loss and degradation. A total of 36 wetlands were monitored to assess species richness of branchiopods and copepods by using accumulation curves and non-parametric estimators. Three different types of wetlands were identified: i) temporary freshwaters-subsaline-hyposaline (TFSH); ii) permanent freshwaters-subsaline-hyposaline (PFSH); and iii) mesosaline-hyper- saline (MH) wetlands (including temporary and permanent ones). A total of 60 species were recorded; they belong to seven different orders. A large number (37%) of rare species (present in only one wetland) were found while only 11% of the total species were common (i.e., present in more than 20% of wetlands). Species richness was related to wetland typology, with the largest number of species ob- served in TFSH, followed by MH and by PFSH wetlands. We have found that rare species are mainly present in temporary wetlands, the most vulnerable to hydrological changes; hence, these types of wetlands represent unique sites deserving conservation.