Remote sensing and in-situ approach for investigation of pelagic communities in the reservoirs of the electrical power complex

Background: Two closely located reservoirs on the Southern Bug River and its tributary in the southern region of Ukraine were compared to study the impact of temperature on hydrobionts and pelagic communities, a major ecologic issue in the climate warming context, using in-situ and satellite remote sensing data. These reservoirs are parts of the South-Ukraine electric power-producing complex. The Tashlyk reservoir is a cooling reservoir for the nuclear power plant, and Oleksandrivske reservoir is used for production of hydroelectricity and irrigation. The cooling reservoir is replenished by pumping water from the upper part of the Oleksandrivske reservoir. Methods: The relationships of temperature, transparency, and distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities were established based on satellite remote sensing data and in-situ during 2013–2021. The main variables of phytoplankton and zooplankton were compared, and for improved understanding features, spatial distribution maps were created. Results: It was found that the distribution of coenotic groups of phytoplankton and zoonplankton in the cooling reservoir (Tashlyk) corresponds to thermal conditions. Three communities of phytoplankton and two communities of zooplankton were identified in the Tashlyk reservoir. However, in the Oleksandrivske reservoir, separate communities of phytoplankton and zooplankton were reported along its length. Conclusions: It was shown that both on land and in the Oleksandrivske reservoir, there is an increase in temperature in summer, an increasing trend in the global warming context, but that was not observed in the cooling reservoir of the nuclear power plant (NPP). It let us assume that the factors such as temperature or nutrients impact can be assessed as external significant factors related to the catchment area for the reservoirs with different types of using.