Macrozoobenthos communities in saline rivers of the hyperhaline lake Elton basin: long-term research

The composition of benthic communities in saline rivers is evolutionarily adapted to the effects of extreme conditions. As a result of long-term studies of five highly mineralized rivers in the hyperhaline Lake Elton basin, 91 species and taxons have been identified as part of macrozoobenthos communities. Insects predominate - 68 species and taxa. Diptera larvae are represented by 43 taxa, of which 25 are species of the family Chironomidae. The level of mineralization, which provides the species with a stable habitat in saline rivers, ranges from 4.0 to 41.4 g / l. The main regularities of changes in bottom communities along the gradient of abiotic factors in saline rivers have been investigated.