STUDIES ON THE ZOOBENTHOS OF FUHAI LAKE, XINJIANG

A survey of zoobenthos in the Fuhai Lake, Xinjiang was carried out during July, 1985. Sixty-nine zoobenthic species (including 9 aquatic oligochaetes, 42 aquatic insects, 11 molluscs and 7 species of other taxa) were found. Among them, Tubifex tubifex, Limnodrilus helveticus, Procladius choreus, Chironomus salinarius, Tanytarsus, Palpomyia and Caenis were predominant. The average density of zoobenthos in the lake was 1083 ind/m2 (86% belonging to insects) and the biomass was 18.544 g/m2 (63% belonging to insects). Standing crops of the zoobenthos were differecnt in the four subregions of the lake. Population densities in the subregions exhibited a gradual decrease in the following order: Zhonghaizi>Qishisan Gongli>Xiaohaizi>ted a gradual decrease in the following order: Zhonghaizi>Qishisan Gongli>Xiaohaizi>Dahaizi. Environomntal characteristics of Fuhai Lake and their influences on the composition and abundance of zoobenthos were also discussed.