Primary production of plankton and decomposition of organic matter in saline lakes of the crimea peninsula

The lakes under study can be classified as eutrophic-hypertrophic waterbodies according to the level of primary production. High concentrations of suspended matter (up to 7326 g/m³) and total phosphorus (up to 5625 mg/m³) were registered in the lakes. The values of the primary production of plankton and the destruction of organic matter do not depend on the absolute concentration of salts in water. Unlike the destruction of organic matter, the primary production of plankton is higher in winter than in summer. Thus, the accumulation of organic matter in saline lakes occurs mainly in winter. The negative relationship between the primary production of plankton and the biomass of the filter feeder Artemia sp. has been determined.