Macrozoobenthos of spring complexes on the territory of the Grodno region

Abstract

The taxonomic structure of the macrozoobenthos of 11 springs of the Grodno region has been established. There were identified 53 lower definable taxon (LDT) belonging to 4 types of aquatic invertebrates: Platyhelminthes – 1 LDT, Mollusca – 10, Annelida – 5, Arthropoda – 37 LDT. Among the identified animals, 23 species were first noted for the springs of the Grodno region. The fauna of the studied aquatic invertebrates of the springs of the Grodno region represented by rare and protected species of animals not only in Belarus, but also in Europe. Springs are a special type of natural reservoirs, which are inhabited by a specific fauna – one of the important components of the overall biological diversity of water bodies in Belarus. The most species of the fauna of the studied springs is formed by species exhibiting cryophilic properties, some of these animals are obvious relics of the Ice Age. The ways of penetration of these species into the modern fauna of Belarus are also not yet fully understood.