ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACH TO ASSESSMENT OF THE RESPONSE OF HYDROECOSYSTEMS TO ANTHROPOGENIC LOAD

Abstract

Assessment of the state of hydroecosystems and development of mechanisms for their rational use is one of the most important tasks of modern hydroecological research. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the water quality of the Lower Section of the Dnieper River (including the Lower Section of the Ingulets River) by different methods of determining the water quality of surface water bodies in accordance with fisheries standards, as being most sensitive to changes in the ecological state of the river, on the basis of monitoring over the years 2001–2016. Estimation of the quality of surface water within the Kherson region by different methods by hydrochemical parameters in accordance with the current standards of the quality of surface water resources was executed. It was found that by hydro-chemical parameters waters of the Lower Section of the Dnieper River are mostly “moderately contaminated” and “contaminated”, waters of the Lower Section of the Ingulets River are mostly “contaminated”, “very contaminated”, or “catastrophically contaminated”. Ecological state of the Lower Section of the Dnieper River and of the Lower Section of the Ingulets River was estimated by method of calculation of integrated index. The current calculation method takes into account the effect of the total action of substances and is approved practically for the analysis of the ecological state of other rivers. Self-purification potential and capability of restoration in time and space (along the river stream) of the aquatic ecosystem of the lower section of the Dnieper River and of the Lower Section of the Ingulets River were established. It was discovered, that the state of surface water of region was characterized as unsteady with the low of ecological reliability. The monograph highlights the application of mathematical models in the hydroecological problems research. The analysis of anthropogenic factors affecting change of quality of the Dnieper River surface water was used. Consequently, the processes of self-purification potential and capability of the aquatic ecosystems restoration are at the low level. The ecological state of the rivers is characterized as an ecological regress. It was established that for today it is connected with certain ecological risks to consider the basin of the Lower Section of the Dnieper River as a water object of fishery significance. There is a necessity of further research using modern methods of complex estimation of surface waters sources’ quality.