15 Years of UNDP/GEF in the Black Sea Region,
Final Seminar,
14-15 February 2008, Istanbul
Zoobenthos (1)
Macro- and meio-benthos
Standardised macro-methods
manual
Excellent overview of data
analysis options in research
cruise reports and Todorova &
Konsulova presentation (univariate and
multivariate approaches)
Ecological indices represent the best forward
for result presentation
Zoobenthos (2)
No. of species distribution:
Zoobenthos (3)
Abundance distribution:
Zoobenthos (4)
Biomass distribution:
Zoobenthos (5)
AMBI geographic distribution
Zoobenthos (6)
WARNING
Zoobenthos is not evenly distributed over short
distances. Thus:
•Both abundance and biomass of individual species
vary substantially between replicates
•The total number of species can vary greatly
between replicates
•30 nautical miles offshore of Constanta, the number
of macrozoobenthos species varied between 5 and
14 in individual replicates, with a total number of 25
species in 5 replicates
Phyllophora field (1)
The Phyllophora field once provided a habitat
for 118 species of invertebrates and 47 species
of fish
In 1964, 32 macro-algal species were
recorded, but this had halved by 1986
3 years later only a quarter of the species
recorded in the 1960s were present
However, in 2004, a slight increase in
macroalgal species numbers was recorded
when compared to the 1989 situation
Phyllophora field (2)
Shading by phytoplankton
1979
2002
Phyllophora field (3)
Sediment deposition rates - Danube Prodelta
Phyllophora field (4)
Meiobenthos
Macrobenthos
Phyllophora field (5)
Relatively low levels of zoobenthos occur in
the Phyllophora field, but often with a high
number of species, particularly of
macrozoobenthos
While one species dominates, this dominance
is much less complete than in the other
polygons and indicative of higher biodiversity
Large numbers of ascidians actively process
high organic flux from water column,
preventing sediment enrichment
Phyllophora field (6)
Originally Phyllophora nervosa dominated
Phyllophora brodiaei in southern part of field,
but rarely dominant. Ph. pseudoceranoides has
not been recorded since 1989
Now filamentous reds (Polysiphonia) and
greens (Ectocarpus,
Desmarestia) cover 70-80% bed
Phyllophora (and other
seaweeds) reduce internal
loading of nutrients
Plankton
Manuals written; equipment provided
Plankton populations change quickly (on a
seasonal basis)
Participating scientists asked to present results
in relation to long-term monitoring data
Phytoplankton biomass and abundance have
been on a decreasing trend since the early
1990s
Species richness and other univariate indices
are in favour of the “recovery phase” of the
NW Black Sea ecosystem
19982005
19951997
19831990
20012005
19912000
19831990
1960s
Danube
19611963
3
Biomass (g/m )
3
Biomass (g/m )
Phytoplankton (1)
9
6
3
0
9
6
3
0
Phytoplankton (2)
However, the dominance of mixotrophic/
heterotrophic dinoflagellates strongly resembles
the “eutrophication phase”
Concern over colonisation by invasive species
(Alexandrium cysts – 2006)
In the 1960s, the phytoplankton population was
dominated by diatoms and dinoflagellates
Now “others” constitute a much greater
proportion – the ecology is changing
Zooplankton (1)
Two patterns of vertical distribution:
•Maximum close to the thermocline
where Noctiluca dominates
•Maximum in surface waters
Copepods, Cladocera, Meroplankton,
Appendicularia and Chaetognatha predominate
in Northern Shelf waters
Further south, Noctiluca dominates
Improved diversity in northern (Ukrainian)
waters
Mnemiopsis/Beroe battle continues
Zooplankton (2)
Long-term summer abundance of Cladocera and
Copepoda (Cape Galata):
Nutrients and Fluxes (1)
Annual water transport across the shelf/open
sea boundary:
140
volume
120
100
80
0
4
8
months
12
Nutrients and Fluxes (2)
Annual water transport
across the shelf/open
sea boundary:
Peaks in October
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
46°
44°
42°
N
46°
44°
42°
N
46°
44°
42°
N
46°
44°
42°
28°
30°
32°
E
28°
30°
32°
E
28°
30°
32°
E
àì î í èé
5
Nutrients and Fluxes (3)í èòðàòû
0
11
4
8
12
40
a
b
Annual DIN fluxes across the shelf/open sea
boundary:
10
35
9
30
8
25
7
20
àì î í èé
6
5
Ammonium
0
11
a
9
8
12
0
í èòðàòû
b
30
25
7
20
Nitrite
10
4
8
12
30
35
8
25
20
15
àì î í èé
6
5
0
4
8
15
10
10
5
12
0
30
40
30
Nitrate
40
10
35
4
15
í èòðàòû
25
20
4
8
12
c
0
4
8
12
Nutrients and Fluxes (4)
Surface trackers following anticyclonic eddy:
A= Release point
B = Cape Kaliakra
C = fishing vessel
route
Nutrients and Fluxes (5)
The nitrate maximum defines the oxycline
boundary in deep regions of the Sea
Phosphate conc’s increase within the oxycline
and the upper
suboxic zone
Surface conc’s
low, but may
be locally
elevated