Distribution of crustaceans (Malacostraca, Arthropoda) in rivers of the semi-desert zone (with the example of the Volgograd reservoir tributes)

Abstract

As a result of our studies of the macro- and nectozoobenthos of the rivers of the semidesert zone (the Volgograd reservoir basin), 16 Malacostraca species were recorded, most of which are representatives of the Ponto-Caspian complex. Compared to the Volgograd reservoir, there is an increase in the quantitative indicators  of mysids and isopods and a decrease in the number of species, abundance and biomass of amphipods and cumaceans in the semi-desert zone rivers. The average abundance and biomass of crustaceans in the surveyed rivers are approximately 2.5 times lower than in the Volgograd Reservoir. Crustaceans of the Ponto-Caspian and PontoAzov complexes, as well as the isopods Asellus aquaticus (Linné, 1758) inhabit fresh and oligohaline waters, while the gammarids Gammarus lacustris (Sars, 1863) live in oligohaline and polyhaline waters. Amphipods are characterized by the largest number of species, which, taking into account their morphology and the type of substrate which they live on, are assigned to three ecomorphs, namely: clingers, crawlers, and diggers. No symbionts in the Yeruslan basin rivers were found. The noted amphipod ecomorphs are distributed relatively evenly with a slight dominance of crawlers (45%). It has been revealed that two types of crustacean cenoses are formed in the surveyed rivers. The first type is formed mainly by consortium interactions of the edificatory mollusks Dreissena with amphipods Chelicorophium curvispinum Sars, 1895, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes (Eichwald, 1841), mysids Paramysis ullskyi Czerniavsky, 1882, P. lacustris (Czerniavsky, 1882), and associated species. The second cenosis in the rivers is represented by a complex of small coastal mysid species Katamysis warpachowskyi Czerniavsky, 1882, Limnomysis benedeni Sars, 1893, and amphipods Chaetogammarus warpachowsky (Sars, 1894), the relationships within which are based on common biotopic conditions and feeding patterns.