%0 Journal Article %A Filippov, A. A. %A Orlova, M. I. %A Rusakova, O. M. %A Zhakova, L. V. %A Plotnikov, I. S. %A Smurov, A. O. %A Aladin, N. V. %D 2000 %I Begell House %N 1 %P 20 %R 10.1615/HydrobJ.v36.i1.20 %T Plankton and Benthos of Bol'shoy Sarycheganak Bay (the Aral Sea) %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/38cb2223012b73f2,49008ea10b7e1afa,7abf6e0c5d709bf9.html %V 36 %X Prior to the 1980s, plankton and benthos of Bol'shoy Sarycheganak Bay were closely similar to those of the rest of the area of water of the Lesser Aral Sea by their species composition and character of changes. Separation of the bay from the main area of water of the sea in 1987 and a sharp increase in water salinity resulted in complete degradation of characteristic communities of aquatic organisms. After resuming the connection between this bay and the sea in 1992, initial communities of aquatic organisms also began to restore gradually. In 1994, the major portion of the flora and fauna of the Bol'shoy Sarycheganak bay was represented by the organisms common to the rest of the Small Aral Sea. Some structural peculiarities of aquatic communities made it possible to conclude that the ecosystem of the bay was at the stage of formation. %8 2000-02-01