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BENTHIC HABITATS UNDER THE DANUBE-S PLUME INFLUENCE ON THE ROMANIAN BLACK SEA SHELF
Abstract
The paper aims to assess the macrobenthic diversity and habitats distribution in front of the Danube mouth along a depth gradient on the Romanian Black Sea shelf. During the reference 60 - 70?s period the benthic community diversity accounted for 75 species. In the 80?s (starting of eutrophication period) this has sharply decreased to 45 species as result of the ecological collapse due to economic development of the riverine Black Sea countries?. However, the area is naturally under the influence of the riverine inputs and also under anthropogenic pressure, which create permanent stressing conditions on the benthic habitats. The study was performed within the framework of the WAPCOAST Project in 2012. The results is based on the data obtained from 16 quantitative stations distributed from coast (17 m) to 80 m depth. Five broad-scale circalittoral habitats were evinced in the area based on the similarity of biomass of macrobenthic populations: terrigenous mud within Danube plume area, circalittoral mud with Melinna, circalittoral mixed sediments with Dipolydora and Mytilus biogenic reefs, offshore circalittoral mud with Terebellides and offshore circalittoral mixed sediment with Modiolula. A total of 68 taxa were found. An average density of 3,096.9 indv.m-2 and a biomass of 29.22 g.m-2, respectively were recorded. The circalittoral mixed sediments with invasive polychaete Dipolydora quadrilobata and the biogenic reefs of Mytilus galloprovincialis were the richest in terms of diversity and abundance (59 taxa with an average density and biomass of 7,151 indv.m-2 and 62.7 g.m-2 respectively). This new habitat has formed after Dipolydora had established a permanent population on the Romanian shelf and became an engineering species on the mixed circalittoral soft bottom sediments.
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