Recolonisation of temporary streams and evolution of a degree of stability of the zoocenose [Translation from: Ecologia Mediterranea No.1 149-164, 1976]

When flow returns to a temporary stream a certain number of plant and animal species establish themselves more or less rapidly on the stream-bed constituting the initial phase of evolution of the re-population. This phase is essentially characterised by the ”awakening” of animal species that passed the dry season in a dormant state and by the development of the first unicellular algae that constitute the periphyton. Then they are succeeded by more or less stable animal groups and the structural complexity increases. The authors of the present study aim to analyse the dynamics of community succession from the return of water to the biotope until its drying up. It is attempted to determine the influence of the duration of flow on this evolution. This work is based on the analysis of population diversity with reference to its two complementary aspects, species richness and equitability. The River Destel which was studied for this project is situated in the Gorge of Ollioules near the town of Toulon.