Document of bibliographic reference 367433

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Taxonomic composition and salinity tolerance of macrozoobenthos in small rivers of the southern arid zone of the East European Plain

Abstract

Climate-related salinization of inland waters is observed in many regions of the world as a major environmental problem affecting natural processes in aquatic ecosystems. In order to better predict and control these changes, it is important to study the responses of aquatic fauna to increasing salinity. Macrozoobenthic fauna, which includes mollusks, small crustaceans, and insect larvae, constitutes the main food base for fish and water birds. Due to their relatively short life cycles, large species diversity, and high abundance, macrozoobenthos are the best indicators of changing water salinity. To determine the species richness, distribution, and salinity tolerance of macrozoobenthos, we investigated 17 small rivers with different water salinity in the southern arid region of the East European Plain. The study shows that the species richness gradually decreases with an increase in water salinity in the rivers. In freshwater rivers, the macrozoobenthos fauna includes more than 100 species, whereas, in hypersaline rivers with salinity comparable to seawater, only 10 species were found. A total of 5 of the 156 invertebrate species can be used as indicators of water salinization in rivers of the arid regions of Europe.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001071295200001

Bibliographic citation

Golovatyuk, L.V.; Nazarova, L.B.; Kalioujnaia, I.J.; Grekov, I.M. (2023). Taxonomic composition and salinity tolerance of macrozoobenthos in small rivers of the southern arid zone of the East European Plain. Biology-Basel 12(9): 1271. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology12091271

Topic

Fresh water

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true