Human-Induced Sharp Salinity Changes in the World’s Largest Hypersaline Lagoon Bay Sivash (Crimea) and Their Effects on the Ecosystem

Lakes and lagoons play an important role worldwide, salinity fluctuations significantly affect their ecosystems. Bay Sivash, the world’s largest hypersaline water body, underwent a sharp change in salinity, induced by closing of North Crimean Canal. To monitor shift ecosystem, study was carried out from 2014 to 2020 at 15 sites lagoon. Since closure canal, average increased 22 g L?1 (2013) 94 (2020). Suspended solids dissolved organic matter also increased. When above 50 L?1, number taxa decreased; this negative linear relation. The increase changed structure zooplankton benthos. most dramatic changes occurred with 25 70 L?1. Chironomidae larvae numbers began greatly ecosystem bay, since 2014, they have rapidly contribution abundance benthos plankton. concentration benthic–planktonic species plankton, particular, Harpacticoida Chironomidae. At 80–90 nauplii adult brine shrimp appeared become abundant plankton transit new alternative state occurred.