DISTRIBUTION OF AMERICAN ROTIFER <i>KELLICOTTIA BOSTONIENSIS </i>(ROUSSELET, 1908) (ROTIFERA: BRACHIONIDAE) IN WATER BODIES OF THE VOLOGDA REGION

Abstract

The North American rotifer Kellicottia bostoniensis (Rousselet, 1908) was found in 14 water bodies (Sheksna reservoir, 10 lakes and 3 streams) of the Vologda Region. In the reservoir, K. bostoniensis was recorded only in the lake part (Lake Beloye), where its number did not exceed 0.1 thousand individuals/m. The species was found in small lakes differing in genesis, morphology, transparency, color, water activity. The anthropogenic impact on all water bodies is insignificant. In most water bodies, K. bostoniensis and native species Kellicottia longispina (Kellicott, 1879) are living together. As distinct from K. longispina , the alien species is often included in the composition of dominants, accounting for more than 40% of the total abundance of zooplankton in some lakes. K. longispina prevailed over K. bostoniensis only in lakes with a water transparency of more than 1.0 m. The abundance of rotifers in the coastal area was higher in all lakes. The dispersal of K. bostoniensis in the water bodies of the region is obviously associated with bird migration. New finds of rotifers in the Sheksna reservoir indicates its possible spread along the route of the Volga-Baltic waterway.