Zooplankton in Different Types of Estuaries
(using Curonian and Vistula Estuaries as an Example)

E. N. Naumenko

Atlantic Scientific Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography,
ul. Dm. Donskoy 5, Kaliningrad, 236000 Russia

e-mail: naumenko@atlant.baltnet.ru

Received May 26, 2008

Abstract—Based upon the results of long-term monitoring of zooplankton in the Curonian and Vistula estuaries
carried out by the author, specific features of the structure and functioning of the zooplankton communities are
studied. It is shown that the zooplankton communities in the open (Vistula Bay) and closed (Curonina Bay) types
of estuaries differ in the species structures, numbers, biomasses, and functioning. The similarity of the zooplank-
ton communities of these estuaries has to do with the commonness of their trophic structure. The zooplankton
community in the Vistula estuary is more affected by the gradient of abiotic factors than the Curonian bay com-
munity. The mechanism providing the stability of the zooplankton communities in the open-type estuaries is the
energy flow through the omnivorous species and the increase in the number of facultative predators at the terminal
links of the trophic chain. It is shown that the Vistula estuary zooplankton community has a higher specific pro-
ductivity rate and a higher rate of its circulation and use.

Key words: Curnian and Vistula bays, zooplankton, species composition, abundance, biomass, production,
trophic web.

DOI:10.1134/S1995082909010118

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