Unicellular plankton transformation in the river-bay-reservoir system in the initial phase of cyanobacterial bloom

The structure and spatial distribution of unicellular plankton of the river Usa, Usinsky Bay and the adjacent section of the Kuibyshev reservoir in the initial period of cyanobacterial bloom is discussed. The greatest development of plankton was recorded in the central part of Usinsky Bay. In the river part, the basis of the total plankton biomass was formed by heterotrophic bacteria and diatoms, and in the bay and reservoir - by cyanobacteria, mainly of the genera Aphanizomenon and Anabaena. Among eukaryotes in Usinskiy Bay, chlorophytes and diatoms prevailed, and in the reservoir - diatoms and ciliates. Another feature of plankton in the bay and reservoir was the increased proportion of heterotrophic bacteria and ciliates associated with cyanobacteria. The analysis of the structural transformation of communities made it possible to distinguish two main clusters of communities, “lotic” and “letic”, which differ in their structure and quantitative characteristics.