First records of zoobenthos in waterbodies of the protected nature reserve Lukashov Forest Nursery

Abstract

The article presents the first data on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the zoobenthos of water bodies of the Natural Park of Regional Significance «Lukashov Forest Nursery» (Khabarovsk City). In the benthic fauna, 87 widespread taxa of invertebrate species from five types, eight classes and eight orders, among which representatives of the Diptera predominate. The ponds located on the territory are subject to eutrophication, and the stream is subject to pollution, which affects the qualitative and quantitative indicators of the benthos. It was found that in the stream below the pollution site, Oligochaeta reached a higher density and biomass, while oxyphilic larvae of Simuliidae were noted above the pollution site. Based on the oligochaete index values, the stream is characterized as heavily polluted. In the ponds, Chironomidae (71.4 %) dominated in density and Mollusca (87.6 %) in biomass; in the stream – Oligochaeta (88.9 % and 93.0 %) by density and biomass. The average density of zoobenthos in the ponds was 2728 ind./m2, biomass – 34.6 g/m2, in the stream, respectively, 3501 ind./m2, and 6.1 g/m2.