Assessment of the trophic state of the coastal Lake Gardno based on community structure and zooplankton-related indices

An analysis of the species composition of zooplankton of Lake Gardno was based on the materials collected in the years 1998–2002, from July to August. It was found that the numbers of zooplankton species, their abundance and biomass were greatly variable, and depended on abiotic factors and lake trophy. An analysis of the structural characteristics of zooplankton as bioindicators of lake eutrophication revealed the presence of some species of rotifers and crustaceans in the zooplankton community, considered good indicators of lake trophy. The zooplankton-related trophic state indices enabled to classify Lake Gardno as eutrophic and meso-eutrophic.