As part of the expedition, detailed studies of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir ecosystem were carried out. Hydrobiological samples were collected, including phytoplankton, zooplankton and zoobenthos at 30 stations, a total of 212 samples were taken, of which 120 were used to assess the state of the fish food supply. Water samples were taken at 16 stations to determine the presence of highly toxic microcystis.
The study also included a census of young fish (yearlings) in order to assess the yield of commercial species this year.
A 30-meter drag was used to count the number of yearling fish; 37 localities were caught in three lower reaches and 27 in the upper reaches, characterized by a semi-river regime. A high number of yearling roach, bream and pike perch in the catches indicates successful spawning and favorable conditions for the survival of young fish, which became possible due to a high-water year and favorable thermal conditions during the period of natural reproduction.
All data obtained will be subject to office processing and integrated into the general scientific database accumulated by the branch over a long period of research in the Don basin.
Press service of VNIRO
