Abstract
We investigated the role of dormant zooplankton in maintaining biodiversity in temporary environments of semi-arid regions under different levels of anthropogenic pressure: high (intensive agriculture with pesticide use), moderate (livestock), and low (preserved areas). Samples were collected and the experiment was conducted in the field over 31 days, with collections performed every two days, revealing distinct hatching patterns among environments. Hatching rates and diversity were lower in highly impacted areas. Differences between active and dormant communities were notable, with reduced richness and diversity under strong anthropogenic influence. Conchostracans, anostracans, and testate amoebae emerged within the first 48 h, especially in preserved areas. Microcrustaceans such as cladocerans and copepods peaked between days 8 and 14, with cyclopoid and calanoid copepods being more abundant in agricultural zones. Rotifers, particularly Bdelloidea, were present in all environments, whereas testate amoebae were abundant in impacted areas. Our findings emphasize the key role of dormant zooplankton in supporting biodiversity in temporary ecosystems and how land use shapes community structure. These results enhance our understanding of zooplankton hatching dynamics in semi-arid regions and offer valuable insights for conservation. Protecting preserved areas helps maintain the hatching potential and the diversity stored in egg banks. This knowledge is crucial for the management of temporary ecosystems, which function as biodiversity reservoirs in regions increasingly exposed to human pressure.