Changes in macrophytes and fish communities in the cooler of Ignalina nuclear power plant (1988–2008)

Abstract On the basis of long-term studies of the radionuclide and heavy metals accumulation and scatter in biotic and abiotic components of Drūksiai Lake as well as of water and bottom sediments toxicity and genotoxicity, radioactive, chemical and thermal pollution potential impacts on macrophytes and fish communities of Drūksiai Lake were evaluated. Before starting exploitation of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) 95 species of macrophytes were found in Drūksiai Lake. Since the start-up of the second nuclear reactor of INPP (1987), significant alternations in macrophytes species composition and biomass in Drūksiai Lake were especially observed to 1989. Resistant to the pollution macrophytes species began to dominate in the Lake. In 2007–2008 in the main part of the Lake, in which INPP sewage entered, only resistant to anthropogenic impacts macrophytes species were found. Fish species composition also has changed. The varietal diversity of the fish in the Lake significantly decreased from 23–26 (before...