Protistology 13 (3), 152–158 (2019) |
Biomonitoring of anthropogenic contamination of Absheron coast of the Caspian Sea based on the analysis of planktonic ciliate communities |
Ilham Kh. Alekperov and Elyana N. Tahirova Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan | Submitted May 01, 2019 | Accepted June 25, 2019 | Summary A study of planktonic ciliate species diversity in the Caspian littoral of Absheron was conducted in 2014-2018. Fifty-six ciliate species belonging to 21 families were revealed. A correlation has been established between the planktonic ciliates' species richness and the organic pollution degree at the coastal zone. The status of some ciliate species as indicators of varying saprobity was clarified. The most precise indication using ciliates was obtained for alpha-meso and alpha-polysaprobic zones. We explain this fact by the more accurate data on ciliates - indicators of more polluted zones and the erroneous certification of many ciliate species, currently considered as indicators of beta-alpha-mesosaprobic zone.
Key words: Absheron coast, anthropogenic pollution, Caspian Sea, ciliates, plankton
Address for correspondence: Ilham Kh. Alekperov Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku; e-mail: i_alekperov@yahoo.com |
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