Solar and wastewater effects on zooplankton communities of the Imandra Lake (Kola Peninsula, Russia), 1990 to 2003

Both heliophysical and anthropogenic (wastewater) effects on zooplankton biomass and abundance of the Imandra Lake (the largest subarctic lake at Kola Peninsula, Russia) were investigated during the 1990 - 2003 period. We used different indexes of solar activity (sunspot numbers and UV- radiation values) as heliophysical factors. Information about UV- radiation values was derived from satellite data. As a parameter of anthropogenic pollution we used the information about wastewaters input in Imandra Lake by copper-nickel (Severonikel plant) enterprise and apatite-nepheline industry (AO Apatit). Besides we used the direct measurements of concentrations of the most important pollutants (Al, Ni, Cu) and biogenic components (N and P) in the Imandra Lake. It was shown that the correlation between heliophysical factors and zooplankton biomass and abundance was high and significant (r= 0.7- 0.8), and it was not significant between waste waters input volume and zooplankton productivity. According to the results obtained the main factor influencing zooplankton bioproductivity is solar UV-B radiation due to its damage effects. In addition for middle latitude Krasnoye Lake (Karelia, Russia; 1964 to 1984) and Lake Michigan (USA, 1984 to 1990) data we found nearly the same effect- anticorrelation between UV radiation level and zooplankton bioproductivity, but unfortunately the significance level was not sufficient. However, the effect at middle latitudes was some lower than at high-latitude Imandra Lake. Such discrepancy seemed to be associated with different day duration at high and middle latitudes. Our results seem to prove that solar forcing (mainly UV-B radiation) is significant factor governing zooplankton bioproductivity in subarctic lakes even in such polluted one like Imandra Lake

Pasvik River Watercourse, Barents region: Pollution Impacts and Ecological Responses Investigation in 1993

For the Pasvik River watercourse two major ecological problems was encountered: 1) Effects of heavy metals. This process is observed especially in Keutsyarv and to a lesser extent in lower part of Pasvik River. This is caused by the Ni and Cu input with waste water from smelters and pits of the "Pechenhanickel" company. Very high content of heavy metals (especially Ni) in water, lake sediment, macrophytes and fish is documented in Kuetsyarv. Extensive toxic effects were documented on the fish-population in the lake. The toxic effects are less than expected from the concentrations of heavy metals. This is due to high calsiumcontent, organic matter and eutrophication. 2) Eutrophication. This process is caused by domestic sewage from the settlements and compostion of planctonic and benthic communities, Kuetsyarv is eutrophic and the Pasvik River is oligotrophic to oligo-mesotrophic.Norwegian Ministry of Environment Miljøverndepartementet (MD

Assessing the impacts of mining activities on zooplankton functional diversity

Abstract Aim Mining activities generate countless environmental impacts, including heavy-metal contamination, sorting and increased turbidity. In aquatic ecosystems these impacts can drastically affect the initial links of the food chain, such as zooplankton. Methods To evaluate how the different mining activities can influence the structure and functional diversity of zooplankton, we investigated the geochemical characteristics of the water and sediment in two small impoundments impacted by different mining activities (kaolin and iron extraction). We also explored zooplankton composition, species diversity and functional diversity (feeding guilds taxa). Results As expected, the water and the sediment of both of the reservoirs showed high concentrations of trace elements, particularly Al, Ba, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sr and Zn. Zooplankton biomass and diversity were markedly reduced (< 12 &#956;g.DW.L-1 and H&#8217; < 1.5, respectively), and negatively correlated with turbidity and total suspended solids. Small microphages dominated the trophic composition of zooplankton, and an alternation of trophic guilds was not observed, since the dynamics of raptorial organisms was essentially linked to the temporal fluctuation of a single species of rotifer (Polyarthra cf. dolichoptera). Conclusions In addition to changes in the aquatic habitat and zooplankton composition, the functional niches were also affected by the mining impacts. The use of the functional diversity analysis can emerge as a valuable approach to understand how zooplankton communities respond to drastic environmental changes