NATURAL SCIENCES

Journal of fundamental
and
applied researches

The role of freshwater ecosystems in the process of self-purification of aquatic environment

2014. №3, pp. 30-35

Shaplygina Yulia N. - post-graduate student, Astrakhan State University, 1 Shaumyan Sq., Astrakhan, 414000, Russian Federation, shaplugina@yandex.ru

Kurochkina Tatyana F. - D.Sc. (Biology), Professor, Astrakhan State University, 1 Shaumyan Sq., Astrakhan, 414000, Russian Federation, kurtf@mail.ru

Nasibulina Botagoz M. - D.Sc. (Biology), Professor, Astrakhan State University, 1 Shaumyan Sq., Astrakhan, 414000, Russian Federation, BellaNasib@yandex.ru

The main purpose of the work is the quantitative assessment of a biofiltrational role of filter-feeding bivalve mollusks on the example of a species of Unio pictorum in self-purification of the waters of the delta of the River Volga. The conducted researches directed on the studying of filtrational ability of fresh-water mollusks showed that the studied species of organisms are capable to pump over a huge amount of water in the period of their highest activity, favouring the self-purification of the reservoir of the delta of the River Volga. Being one of the most important parts of the self-purification system of a reservoir, Unio pictorum accelerate the processes of sedimentation, utilization of organic substance with its subsequent mineralization, accumulation and decomposition of the substances and their transit from water into soil. It should be noted that in reservoirs the bivalve mollusks act as the natural biofilters purifying water from situating suspended substances in it of both origins organic and an anthropogenous. As a result of filtrational activity of bivalve mollusks, the biogenic circulation of water is created promoting the mixture of water masses, the clarification of water, deleting a suspension from it and clearing water.

Key words: пресноводные моллюски, моллюски-фильтраторы, самоочищение водоемов, донные организмы, донные отложения, водная экосистема, фильтрация, фильтрационная активность, осаждение взвешенных веществ, Unio pictorum, fresh-water mollusks, filter-feeding bivalve mol