THE RESISTANCE OF THE MARINE PSAMMOPHYLOU S CILIATE COMMUNITY TO COPPER STRESS ON DIFFERENT STAGES OF COLONIZATION

Field experiments showed that the difference in structural changes In the colonial community of marine ciliates id response to the 10 mg/l c opper treatment depends on the developmental stage of the community. T he mature community was more resistant to copper than the immature one . The 100 mg/l copper treatment led to more substantial changes in com munity's structure on all the stages of its development. The immature community had more rapid structural recovery after the treatment than the mature one. The integrated reaction of the community to the stress is determined by relative development of r- and K-strategists in it. Core species of community are replaced by opportunistic ones, tolerant to the copper stress. Their development could indicate community's in itial disturbance.