A Study on the Mesogeobiont Communities in a Heavy Metals Polluted Area near the City of Plovdiv

The aim of the current work is to study the taxa composition and the ecological status of the mesogeobiont communities in the region of heavy metal pollution near Plovdiv City. In total four sample plots were selcted and one control from clean area. In the plots located in the immediate vicinity of the source of contamination, a low taxonomic diversity and abundance of the mesogeobionts was recorded. With the increase of the distance from the source of pollution, the taxonomic diversity and number of mesogeobionts increases. The structures of the mesogeobiont community located farthest from the local source of pollution and that of the control are similar. The communities of the mesogeobionts in the points with an increased level of heavy metals contamination have altered ecological structure.