Zooplankton of Mokraya Sura River

Abstract

Structural and functional characteristics of zooplankton as well as the results of biotesting were researched to indicate the ecological status of Mokraya Sura river sites. Zooplankton sampling was performed at the sites of Mokraya Sura river in autumn 2014 and in spring 2015. Species composition and abundance of zooplankton showed that zooplankton is most depressed at the upper sites of the river due to joint effect of slime accumulation eutrophication and industrial sewage. Biotesting results estimated water quality of the site near aeration plant sewage emergency discharge as most polluted of the river sites where large abundance and biomass of zooplankton were created mostly by planktonic rotifers. Large figures of filter-seeding crustaceans as well as low saprobity index indicate improvement in water quality at the sites 3 km and 2 km upstream from the river mouth.