Planktonic Fauna of Small Reservoirs in the Komi Republic

Abstract

One hundred and eight species and forms of planktonic organisms have been revealed in three small reservoirs in the Komi Republic (the northeast of European Russia). Species that were not previously known for the water bodies of the Vychegda River Basin (Limnosida frontosa) and the Republic of Komi (Lecane mira, Macrochaetus subquadratus, Filinia longiseta limnetica, and Rhynchotalona falcata) have been found. It has been established that the richness of the planktonic fauna depends on the age of the water body: the maximum number of species is found in the oldest reservoir, namely, the Kazhim Reservoir. The planktonic communities of artificial reservoirs are distinguished by a low level of similarity of faunas both with each other and in comparison with the natural lakes of the region. The fauna distribution in the old reservoirs is uneven. The relatively large fauna richness of planktonic communities in the littoral zones is due to the water-level regime in the reservoirs.