Zooplankton indices in the evaluation of the ecological state of the eutrophic lake (Case study: Karasikha Lake, Russia)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Utilization, Institute of Management, Economics and Finance, Kazan Federal University, Russia

2 Volzhsko-Kamsky Nature Reserve, Russia

Abstract

Long-term (1998-2018) studies have been carried out on the small lake, Karasikha, located in the territory of the Volga-Kama State Nature Biosphere Reserve. Physicochemical characteristics of the lake water classify it as eutrophic, polluted, with a low oxygen content, but a high content of organic matter and phosphates. In parallel, some studies were carried out on its zooplankton community. Karasikha Lake is the habitat of 70 species of planktonic rotifers and crustaceans identified. Based on the number of species, rotifers predominated and their largest number belonged to Brachionidae family. On average 3-4 species were dominant, as indicators of eutrophic and polluted waters. However, with a relatively high species richness of zooplankton, the community has low quantitative indicators. The low oxygen content in the water column makes zooplankton concentrate mainly in the epilimnion layer (up to 2-3 m in depth). The lowest quantitative indicators of zooplankton are characteristic of the under-ice period, which is also associated with a lack of oxygen in the water. The community is dominated by indicators of dirty waters. The structure of zooplankton communities is typical of highly polluted lakes. Indices based on the taxonomic structure of zooplankton classify the reservoir as highly eutrophic and even hypertrophic.
 

Keywords


Adamczuk, M, Mieczan, T, Tarkowska-Kukuryk, M & Demetraki-Paleolog, A 2015, Rotatoria–Cladocera–Copepoda relations in the long-term monitoring of water quality in lakes with trophic variation (E. Poland). Environmental Earth Sciences, 73: 8189-8196.
Alekin, OA, Semenov, AD, & Skopintsev, BA 1973, Guide to the chemical analysis of land waters. Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat, 268 p.
Alimov, AF, Bogatov, VV & Golubkov, SM 2013, Production hydrobiology. St. Petersburg, Nauka, 393 р.
Andronikova, IN 1996, Structural and functional organization of zooplankton of lake ecosystems of various trophic types. St. Petersburg, "Science", 189 p.
Carlson, R 1977, A trophic state index for lakes. Limnology and oceanography, 22: 361-369.
Dembowska, EA, Napiórkowski, EA, Mieszczankin, T & Józefowicz, S 2015, Planktonic indices in the evaluation of the ecological status and the trophic state of the longest lake in Poland. Ecological Indicators, 56: 15-22.
Derevenskaya, O, Unkovskaya, E & Kosova, M 2017, Indices of zooplankton in assessing the ecological state of Lake Ilinskoe (Russia). Turkish Online Journal of Design Art and Communication, 7: 1787-1794.
Ejsmont-Karabin, J & Karabin A 2013, The suitability of zooplankton as lake ecosystem indicators: Crustacean trophic state index. Polish Journal of Ecology, 61: 561-573.
Ershad Langroudi, H,  Kamali, M, Falahatkar, B 2010, The independent effects of ferrous and phosphorus on growth and development of Tetraselmis suecica; an in vitro study,  Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 8: 109-114.
Haberman, J & Haldna, M 2014, Indices of zooplankton community as valuable tools in assessing the trophic state and water quality of eutrophic lakes: long term study of Lake Võrtsjärv. Journal of Limnology, 73: 263-273. Original article, DOI: 10.4081/jlimnol.2014.828J
Hakkari, L 1972, Zooplankton species as indicators of environment. Aqua fennica, Helsinki, рp. 46-54.
Jafari, F,  Ramezanpour, Z & Sattari, M 2015, First record of Ebria tripartita (Schumann) Lemmermann, 1899 from south of the Caspian Sea, Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences,  3: 283-288
Ochocka, A & Pasztaleniec, A 2016, Sensitivity of plankton indices to lake trophic conditions. Environmental
Shannon, CE & Weaver, W 1949, The mathematical theory of communication. Urbana University, Illinois Press, 117 p.
Sladečhek, V 1973, System of water quality from biological point of view. Egetnisse der Limnologie, 7:  218.
Yu, Y 1973, Lurie Unified methods of water analysis. Chemistry, Moscow, Russia, 376 р.
Shumilov, OI, Kasatkina, EA, Kashulin, NA, Vandysh, O, & Sandimirov, SS 2005, Solar and Wastewater Effects on Zooplankton Communities of the Imandra Lake (Kola Peninsula, Russia), 1990 to 2003. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3: 139-145.