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INCREASE IN UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS AND FUNCTIONING OF THE BS ECOSYSTEM

INCREASE IN UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS AND FUNCTIONING OF THE BS ECOSYSTEM. 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

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INCREASE IN UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS AND FUNCTIONING OF THE BS ECOSYSTEM

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  1. INCREASE IN UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS AND FUNCTIONING OF THE BS ECOSYSTEM 15 Years of UNDP/GEF in the Black Sea Region, Final Seminar, 14-15 February 2008, Istanbul

  2. 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

  3. Zoobenthos (2) • No. of species distribution:

  4. Zoobenthos (3) • Abundance distribution:

  5. Zoobenthos (4) • Biomass distribution:

  6. Zoobenthos (5) • AMBI geographic distribution

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Phyllophora field (2) • Shading by phytoplankton 2002 1979

  10. Phyllophora field (3) • Sediment deposition rates - Danube Prodelta

  11. Phyllophora field (4) Meiobenthos Macrobenthos

  12. 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

  13. Phyllophora field (6) • Originally Phyllophoranervosa dominated • Phyllophorabrodiaei 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

  14. 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

  15. Phytoplankton (1)

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. Zooplankton (2) • Long-term summer abundance of Cladocera and Copepoda (Cape Galata):

  19. Nutrients and Fluxes (1) • Annual water transport across the shelf/open sea boundary:

  20. Nutrients and Fluxes (2) • Annual water transportacross the shelf/open sea boundary: • Peaks in October

  21. Nutrients and Fluxes (3) • Annual DIN fluxes across the shelf/open sea boundary: Ammonium Nitrite Nitrate

  22. Nutrients and Fluxes (4) • Surface trackers following anticyclonic eddy: A= Release point B = Cape Kaliakra C = fishing vessel route

  23. 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’slow, but may be locally elevated

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