Hydrobiology of the Mingachevir Reservoir and Ecological Analysis of Zooplankton Communities

This review summarizes the hydrobiological characteristics of the Mingachevir Reservoir, with particular emphasis on the ecological analysis of its zooplankton communities. In this review, the hydrological, biological, and ecological characteristics of the reservoir, as well as the species composition and dynamics of zooplankton communities, are analyzed on the basis of long-term data. The results of the studies carried out from 1960 to 2023 are compared, and changes in zooplankton communities are assessed. It is significant that a considerable number of species found in the works of Likhodeyeva (1963) and Ahmadov (1971) survived until now, and this suggests the relatively stable state of the ecosystem. However, the appearance of new species in the Mingachevir reservoir in 2021–2023 proves the growth of hydrobiological diversity. The relationships between zooplankton species diversity, dominant species succession, and environmental factors are discussed. Comparison with the Varvara reservoir made it possible to formulate necessary conclusions about similarities and differences of zooplankton communities in the cascade reservoirs.