Current state of zooplankton in Lake Valdayskoe (Valdaysky National Park)

L.F. Litvinchuk

Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 2025, 329(1): 48–58 · https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2025.329.1.48

Full text

Abstract

Valdayskiy National Park is one of the largest protected natural areas in the European part of Russia. On the territory of this national park there are about 200 lakes, one of which is Lake Valdayskoe. The study of its zooplankton community started more than 100 years ago and was repeatedly carried out. The presence of a long series studies provides a rare opportunity to trace changes in the zooplankton community of this unique reservoir. Pelagic zooplankton (Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda) of this lake was studied in summers of 1999 and 2020. 39 invertebrate taxa were revealed. The majority of the zooplankton community was typical for the temperate zone of European Russia. The water quality in the lake during the study period can be estimated as oligosaprobic (clean). In areas of the lake located near settlements, an increase in the abundance and biomass of zooplankton, a decrease in the number of indicator species of oligosaprobic waters, and an increase in the proportion of copepods with morphopathology were observed. In general, in 1999 and 2020 zooplankton abundance has declined and biomass has increased compared to the 1970s.

Key words

species composition, abundance, biomass of zooplankton, Lake Valdayskoe, Central and Uzhin Reaches

Submitted July 29, 2024 · Accepted November 11, 2024 · Published March 3, 2025

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