1) The document discusses various aspects of the Black Sea ecosystem including zoobenthos distribution and species numbers, the decline of the Phyllophora seaweed field and its impact on other species, plankton populations and their seasonal changes, and nutrient fluxes in the water. 2) It notes that zoobenthos species numbers can vary greatly over short distances, and the Phyllophora field originally supported many species but seaweed numbers declined in the 1980s while sediment deposition increased. 3) Plankton populations vary seasonally, and while phytoplankton biomass has decreased since the early 1990s, the dominance of mixotrophic dinoflagellates resembles past eutroph

1. 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)
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
WARNIN
G

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)
1979 2002
Shading by phytoplankton

10. Phyllophora field (3)
Sediment deposition rates - Danube Prodelta
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
T,mlntons
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
CRSMAR,gcm-2
y-1
Sediment Discharge 3y AVG Annual Sediment Discharge CRS MAR

11. Phyllophora field (4)
Meiobenthos
Macrobentho
s

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 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

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)
0
3
6
9
1961-
1963
1983-
1990
1995-
1997
1998-
2005
Biomass(g/m
3
)
0
3
6
9
1960s
1983-
1990
1991-
2000
2001-
2005
Biomass(g/m
3
)
Danube

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:
0 4 8 1 2
m o n t h s
8 0
1 0 0
1 2 0
1 4 0
volume

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

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

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’s
low, but may
be locally
elevated