Abstract

The northern Chilean Patagonia (37-39º S) is characterized by the presence of numerous wetlands, that are located in middle valleys, coastal and mountain zones. Unfortunately there is not information about zooplankton of these water bodies. One important regulator factor is ultraviolet radiation, which increased his penetration in terrestrial surface due ozone depletion. In this scenario the ultraviolet radiation can penetrate totally in water column in shallow water bodies. This condition of exposure to natural ultraviolet radiation would affect the planktonic assemblages, because this condition would allow the existence of tolerant species to ultraviolet radiation. The present study denoted that wetlands located in high mountain zones had low species richness which could be explain by oligotrophy. It was applied a null model analysis based in species presence and absence, that denoted a non random process for explain the species association. Similar pattern was observed in lakes of Chilean Patagonia.