Ecosystem Transformation (), 155-171

Macrozoobenthos of the Saratov Reservoir during cyanobacteria blooms

Kurina E.M. , Golovatyuk L.V., Gorbunov M.Yu., Tarasova N.G.

In the Saratov Reservoir, 49 macrozoobenthos species and taxa of higher systematic rank were recorded in July and September 2023. Mollusks of the genus Dreissena dominated both by abundance (more than 80% of total macrozoobenthos abundance) and biomass (98%). Maximum chlorophyll concentration in July reached 29.4 μg/L, in September, 6.4 μg/L. In autumn, both abundance and biomass of macrozoobenthos increased mainly due to the development of the filter feeders. The number of other trophic groups, as well as sestonophagous mollusks and detritivorous filter feeders Dreissena bugensis did not depend on cyanobacteria bloom. In the lower section of the reservoir, characterized by abnormally high cyanobacterial biomass (up to 9.37 mg/L), minimal abundance and biomass of the filter feeders was registered. As cyanobacteria biomass exceeded 4 mg/L, and chlorophyll a concentration, 10.5 mg/L, no filter feeders were found. Species diversity of benthic communities, calculated using the Shannon index, was generally low during the study period (0–2.08 bits/ind.), with its maximum values occurring in September, when a decrease in cyanobacterial biomass was observed. However, species richness of benthic communities was higher in the summer. Berger-Parker index values were the highest in July and reflected a significant degree of dominance of individual species, primarily mollusks of the genus Dreissena.

E. M. Kurina
A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences
Leninsky Prospekt 33, Moscow, 119071 Russia

ekaterina_kurina@mail.ru

L. V. Golovatyuk
I.D. Papanin Institute of Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences
Borok 109, Nekouz District, Yaroslavl Oblast, 152742 Russia

Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin, Samara Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences
Komzina St. 10, Tolyatti, 445003 Russia


M. Yu. Gorbunov
Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin, Samara Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences
Komzina St. 10, Tolyatti, 445003 Russia


N. G. Tarasova
Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin, Russian Academy of Sciences, senior research scientist
Ul. Komzina 10, Togliatti, Samara Region, 445003 Russia

PhD in Biology

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