FEATURES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF BENTHIC COMMUNITIES OF MOUNTAIN WATER CURRENTS OF THE NORTHERN MACROSLOPE OF THE KHAMAR-DABAN RIDGE (EASTERN SIBERIA)

Abstract

The distribution of zoobenthos communities in six small mountain streams of the northern macroslope of the Khamar-Daban Ridge in the district between the Baikalsk city and the village Murino was investigated. There are 16 taxonomic groups registered in the communities. The dominant groups are most often Oligochaeta, Chironomidae (larvae and pupae), endemic Amphipoda, larvae of Trichoptera and Planariidae. The largest macrozoobenthos biomass was observed in ripal zone of the streams on heavily silted grounds, and the smallest – on sandy grounds with an admixture of silt and detritus at the fairly fast flow.