On the identification of marine bottom macrophyte associations in the north-western Tatar Strait

Abstract

Based on the analysis of algological survey materials in the northwestern Tatar Strait, a method for identifying bottom macrophyte assemblages based on the dominant-physiognomical approach was developed. An excess of abundance limits sets dominants of each association. Each association is distinguished and named by only one, the most abundant dominant of the primary vegetation layer. To describe the associations, two abundance indicators were used: projective vegetation cover (the primary) and relative biomass (the additional). Using quantitative abundance indicators makes the сharacteristics of associations verifiable, comparable, and fit for statistical processing. The proposed methodology allows identifying vegetative assemblages unambiguously and carrying out the vegetation mapping by the physiognomical outlook of assemblages. It is especially actual during surveys in severe conditions of the far eastern and north Russian seas.