SUCCESSION OF MACROZOOBENTHOS IN THE ARAL SEA DURING ITS TRANSITION FROM OLIGOHALINE TO HYPERSALINE WATERBODY

The changes in species composition and quantitative development of macrozoobenthos of the Aral Sea during the last 100 years have been considered. It was shown that in 1960s the diversity of macrozoobenthos increased by 22 % due to scheduled and accidental introductions. Later as a result of progressing salinization of the waterbody the number of species of bottom invertebrates steadily decreased and since 2004 macrozoobenthos of the Large Aral Sea is represented by the only species – larvae of chironomid Baeotendipes cf. noctivaga.