Characteristics of phytoplankton in the Zaporizhzhia reservoir for the period of its existence (review)

Purpose. Based of literature data, in chronological order, to compose a list of leading scientists who investigated phytoplankton in the middle part of the River Dnipro, which, after the construction of the Dniprostan dam, became the Dnipro (Zaporizhzhia) reservoir. To outline the main trends of their activities, analyze and summarize the results of studies carried out at different periods of the reservoir exploitation. To detect the dynamics of changes in the quantitative and qualitative composition of phytoplankton in different parts of the above-mentioned reservoir from 1918 to 2016. Findings. The article shows changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of phytoplankton in different periods of the formation of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir ecosystem. In particular, during its first filling, years of first flooding, in the first period of its existence, period of dam destruction and the restoration of the river regime, years after the Second World War, period of second filling, period of intensive building of hydrotechnical facilities and intra-cascade existence of this reservoirs. Fundamental studies were initiated by professor-algologist A. D. Svirenko who established the species composition and basic patterns of phytoplankton vegetation in the River Dnipro, both before its regulation and during the first flooding of areas during the construction of reservoirs. He was the first in Ukraine who outlined the effect of natural rapids and dam construction on phytoplankton communities. A significant contribution to the development of these hydrobiological studies was made by Gaukhman Z. S., Primachenko A. D. and other scientists whose works are mentioned in this article. The article presents the generalized results of studies of different scientists regarding the number of species, abundance and biomass of phytoplankton in different parts of the reservoir. It was found that the number of phytoplankton species from 1918 (22) to 2016 decreased more than two-fold. At the same time, the indicators of its abundance and biomass, on the contrary, increased significantly due to both the intra-cascade position of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir and the significant human impact on this water body. Practical value. The information presented in the article can be used to determine the contribution of individual scientists to the development of phytoplankton studies from the Zaporizhzhia reservoir, as well as hydrobiology in general.