Contemporary morpho-functional transformation of seaweed communities of the Zernov phyllophora field (Black Sea)

Abstract

According to the results of two international cruises in 2004 and 2006, the contemporary morpho-functional organization of macrophytes of the Zernov phyllophora field was considered. It was shown that Phyllophora Grev. communities are replaced by fine, ramified filamentous algae (Polysiphonia sanguinea (Ag.) Zanard., Feldmannia irregularis (Kütz.) Hamel., Desmarestia viridis (O. Müll. in Hornem.) J.V. Lamour.), the ecological activity of which according to indices of specific surface are from 10- to 40-fold greater than in the phytobenthos of the Danube − Dnieper interfluve and deepwater shelf communities subject to eutrophication. At present, the Phyllophora communities have undergone analogous changes to those that took place in coastal Cystoseira communities in the 1970s-1980s.