PLANKTON OF UST-KURA REGION OF THE CASPIAN SEA

Abstract

Abstract. Plankton of Ust-Kura region of the Caspian Sea is studied in 2009–2011. Forty-eight species of planktonic ciliates, 17 species of Cladocera, 3 species of rotifers and 2 species of copepods are registered during the studies. Species diver-sity of all groups strongly influences the Kura River defining seawater desalination this site. The vast majority of species of plank-ton community refers to freshwater representatives or eurybiontic species able to exist in a wide range of salinity. Methods. Collected samples for evaluation were examined diatomaceous plankton partially invivo, and then fixed with 4% formalin with addition of dye Benqalrose. Further processing of the samples was carried out under laboratory conditions. Results. During the study 43 species of ciliates, 3 species of rotifers, 17 species of Cladocera and 2 species of cope-pods and their larval stages was noted (Table 1) . As seen from Table 1, the distribution of planktonic ciliates to collection points was fairly even and ranged from a minimum number of species reported by Article 1 (22 species) to a maximum at station 5 (31 species). It should also be noted that the vast majority mentioned in plankton ciliates are typical planktontam is distributed fairly evenly throughout the studied waters. Random plankton species, such as representatives of Condylostoma and Amphisiella were marked in shallow water stations 4 and 5. Apparently their presence in the samples is due to the temporary transfer of ben-thic plankton under the influence of the wave factor. Ключевые слова