In recent years, the Bandama river and its catchment area have been subjected to intense limnological research, in the framework of a program of ecological monitoring of aquatic environment, treated with anti-simulium insecticides (W.H.O. project for Onchocerciasis control in West-Africa).
The present contribution summarizes the information collected on this tropical river. After a brief description of the basin and its geological setting, climate and hydrology, results of studies on the water chemistry, biology and ecology of its animal and plant communities (plankton, periphyton, insects, decapod crustaceans, fish) are presented. The human impact on the system (dam-building, use of pesticides) is also discussed.
Keywords tropical river - hydrology - water chemistry - communities - phytoplankton - epiphytes - insects - shrimps - fish - ecology - human impact - pesticides