Cysts of three species of anostracans (Branchipusschaefferi, Chirocephalus diaphanus, and Tanymastigites perrieri), two species of Notostracans (Triops numidicus and Lepidurus apus) and one species of Spinicaudata (Leptestheriamayeti) were collected from the upper 2 cm of dry sediments at intervals along transects from a temporary pool in an arid zone of Morocco and from two ditches in France. The horizontal distribution of viable cysts was patchy and is discussed in relation to several ecological parameters prevailing during the aquatic phase. These include vegetation distribution, depth and morphometry of the pond, dominant wind pattern, and granularity of the sediments.

The densities reached more than 1700 cysts of C. diaphanus per 100 cm², and 1150 cysts of L. apus per 100 cm² in the two ditches. The mean densities of cysts per 100 cm² calculated for each transect ranged from 250 to 450 for C. diaphanous and 240 to 260 for L. apus (in the ditch populations) and about 1–6 for T. perrieri and L. mayeti, 3–15 for B. schaefferi, and16–58 for T. numidicus in the pool in Morocco.