Caspian Sea
Biological Parameters
Methods of sampling and processing of the microplankton
Qualitative samplings of plankton were done on nets made from kapron screen ¡í 75, quantitative ones with Nansen bathometer of 1 l volume. Samples were preserved with 4 % formalin.
Verticals sampling were done on horizons 0-5, 5-10, 10-25, 25-50, 50-70, 70-100 m. Diurinal observations were carried out in 4 house . Infusoria were counted in 5 ml water samples in the calculation chamber without drying, repeating for 3-4 times 1500 total preparations were used for studying of species composition of infusoria. Total number of samples was 474.
Methods of sampling and processing of the mesozooplankton
Qualitative samplings were done on nets from kapron screen N 38 and N 77, quantitative ones on Jedi net (average model) made from kapron screen N 38. Samplings were done in standard sections and stations at a depth of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 m and above. Total samples of zooplankton were taken from bottom and water surface. Samples were preserved with 4 % formalin. Organisms were counted in Bogorov chamber. Biomass calculated with the help of standard weights of animals. Total number of samples was 6869.
Methods of sampling and processing of the phytoplankton Caspian Sea
Phytoplankton samples were taken in standard sections and stations. In each section sampling were at the following depths: 10, 25, 50 and 100 m. Qualitative samples were taken on Jedi net (average model) made from kapron screen N 77, . qualitative ones ¨C by setting method with bathometers of Knudsen and Nansen. Samples were pressed with 4 % formalin.
Quantitative estimation were carried out counting cells in 1 l water. Biomass of phytoplankton was calculated according ty volume of cells in each species. Volume of cell was determined equated it with geometrical body (Morozova-Vodyanyskaya,1954).
Mesozooplankton of the Caspian Sea Gulfs
In Caspian Sea gulfs there were found out 54 species of mezozooplankton. Among them Cladocera dominated (44.4 %) second place occupied by Rotatoria (18,5 %) and third place by Copepoda (18,5 %). Mesozooplankton of the studied gulfs mainly consisted of marine species.
Species diversity in Sulak gulf more (38 species) than in Baku bay (13 species), Turkmen gulf (16 species), Kizlar gulf (18 species) and Greater Kizilagach gulf (34 species)
Highest development of mesozooplankton was noted in the Greater Kizilagach gulf (290 mg/m3) and Sulak (619 mg/m3) gulfs, smallest one in Tukmen (128 mg/m3) and Kizlar (122.0 mg/m3) gulfs. Copepoda dominated in all studied gulfs by biomass. Cladocera occupied second place, Rotatoria and larvae of the bottom dwelling animals occupied third place.
Caspian Sea level raising positively effected on increase of biomass of Southern Caspian mesozooplankton, but species composition of Baku bay mesozooplankton decreased due to extremely oil pollution.
Physical&Chemical Parameters
Water temperature varies considerably with latitude. This difference is greatest (about 10¡ãC) in the winter when temperatures in the north are 0-0.5¡ãC near the ice and 10-11¡ãC in the south. Freezing temperatures are found in the north and in shallow bays along the eastern coast. The water temperature of the west coast is generally 1-2¡ãC higher than along the east coast. In the open sea, the water temperatures are higher than those near the coast by 2-3¡ãC in the Middle Caspian and by 3-4¡ãC in the southern part of the sea.
Salinity in the North Caspian varies markedly, from 0.1 parts per thousand (ppt) at the mouth of the Volga and Ural rivers to up to 10-11 ppt near the Middle Caspian. The middle and southern parts of the sea have only small fluctuations of salinity; surface salinity is about 12.6 to 13.5 ppt, increasing from north to south and from west to east. There is also a slight increase in salinity with depth (0.1 to 0.2 ppt) observed in all regions of the sea.
Source: Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)
Chemical Parameters
The contents of oxygen in the North Caspian - 4.6-10.6 ml/l. There are complete disappearance of oxygen in shallow areas of the North Caspian in winter.
In western part - 6.41-6.66 ml/l.
In east part - 6.38 - 6.95 ml/l
The contents of oxygen in the South Caspian: in the winter 3.5 (200 m) -7.25 ml/l (0 m), spring - 3.74-7.39 ml/l, summer 3.15-5.73 ml/l, autumn - 3.51-6.03 ml/l.