Biodiversity of Hydrobionts in Soda, Chloride and Sulfate Lakes of Transbaikalia

Abstract

This article presents the results of a comprehensive hydrochemical and hydrobiological study of 13 different types of lakes in Transbaikalia conducted in July 2022. Based on factor analysis of hydrochemical and hydrobiological indicators, the lakes were divided into three groups: 1) brackish soda; 2) chloride and sulfate, as well as one salty soda lake, Shvartsivskoe; and 3) brine soda. It has been established that the number of species of different groups of aquatic organisms decreases as the salinity level increases, regardless of the chemical type of water. It has been shown that the dominant composition of primary producers in lakes of different types differs. Two new species of macroalgae for Transbaikalia have been identified (Stigeoclonium flagelliferum Kütz. and Rhizoclonium riparium: (Roth.) Harv.). In the flora of aquatic plants of Baikal Siberia, after more than a 100-year hiatus, Ruppia maritima L is present. The zooplankton of lakes is dominated by halotolerant species. The dominant structure of zoobenthos in brine and salt lakes is dominated by Artemia crustaceans and Ephydridae flies. In deeper brackish lakes, Chironomidae mosquitoes are always the dominant species. Quantitative indicators of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities are characterized by an inverse relationship. With the massive development of cryptophyte algae in brine reservoirs, the abundance and biomass of zooplankton are minimal. No significant fluctuations in the biomass of zoobenthos and phytomass of aquatic plants were detected. In sulfate and chloride lakes, the trophic structure of heterotrophs is represented in zooplankton by a grazing chain, and in zoobenthos by detritivores.