RECENT CHANGES OF ZOOBENTHOS COMMUNITIES FROM THE REGION CAPE KALIAKRA CAPE GALATA (THE BLACK SEA)

S. Uzunova

Abstract: In 2006, 2011 and 2013 benthic macrofauna investigations were carried out in the region between Cape Kaliakra and Cape Galata, situated at 1 mile distance in front of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and two stations in Varna Bay, so that to reveal the present situation with the benthic communities in the studied area in 2013, compared to 2006 and 2011. The results show strong increase in abundance of benthic macrofauna from 2006 to 2013 and reverse trend for the biomass values. Similar results were established for the period 1998–2002, which prove that situation within benthic community is still very unstable. Trend of decrease in mollusk’s share in species composition and increase of polychete number was found in 2013. Shannon – Wiener index shows improvement of the state of benthic communities in the investigated area. Values of Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and multivariate AMBI (M–AMBI) are in conformity with Shannon – Wiener index and confirm the relatively good state of the ecosystem in the investigated area.

Keywords: Black Sea; coastal area; macrozoobenthos

Date published: 2017-09-29