Influence of hydrometeorological factors on the ecological state of the hypersaline lake Saki (Crimea) in 2017–2018

Abstract

In order to identify the influence of hydrometeorological conditions on the seasonal changes in the ecological state of the salt Lake Saki (Crimea), the dynamics of hydrochemical parameters of wa-ter (salinity, oxygen content, temperature, pH, Eh) and changes in the population of the brine shrimp Artemia salina L., as well as the proportion of hatching nauplii from cysts were studied in 2017 and 2018. A decrease in oxygen content and an increase in brine salinity in the summer were accompanied by an increase in air temperature and water temperature; the interannual differ-ences of these parameters were preconditioned by the hydrome-teorological peculiarities. Artemia cysts were found in the water column throughout the year; the nauplii appeared in February – March; the maximum abundance of all life stages of brine shrimp was noted in May. The proportion of hatching nauplii from cysts collected in the cold season was significantly higher than that in the warm season. The observed patterns are discussed as a pos-sible source for analyzing the transformation of hyperhaline eco-systems within the ongoing climate change and for developing the guidelines for the optimal commercial use of the mineral and biological resources of such ecosystems.

Keywords

• seasonal changes
• hydrochemical indicators
• artemia
• salinity
• oxygen content
• temperature
• ph
• eh