USE OF BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES AS INDICATORS OF POLLUTION ORIGIN IN AGRICULTURAL AND URBAN AREAS

摘要

The benthos is one of the most important elements of the continental water ecosystems, which can be used as indicator of water pollution, as it reacts quickly to minor environmental changes. The distribution of benthic animals depends on substratum, quantity and composition of organic matter in sediments. The results of long-term studies of the qualitative and quantitative development of the benthos animals in Lake Sevan and its tributaries, as well as in the outlet River Hrazdan, show that using benthos as an indicator of water pollution of different origin gives workable data. Due to pollution, the species composition in some areas was changed. The organisms that preferred clean water (Trichoptera, Plecoptera) were replaced by organisms that are resistant to water pollution (Tubificidae, Chironomidae).