Species composition and productivity of zooplankton in Tazheran brackish lakes (Pribaikalye)
The main aim of this work is to study species composition, structure-forming complex, abundance, biomass, and production of rotifers and lower crustaceans from four brackish lakes of Tazheran steppes. The following species were for the first time mentioned for water bodies of East Siberia: <i>E. dumonti, M. mongolica, R. frontalis, P. petromyzon, L. oxystemon, L. quadridentata, and K. valga. Gallophils (A. (Rh.) salinus, D. magna, M. mongolica, B. plicatilis asplanchnoides, </i>and <i>H. mira) </i>and euryhaline species <i>(K. quadrata, R. frontalis, F. longiseta, E. arcanus, </i>and <i>A. denticornis) </i>form a structure-forming nucleus of zooplankton. The number of structure-forming species of zooplankton in lakes does not exceed 5-6. The rank distribution curve corresponds to the eutrophic type. According to the level of productivity and qualitative and structural characteristics, the trophic status of the lakes under studies is considered to be meso - eutrophic.