Southern Black Sea Research Articles

The Southern Black Sea in Ptolemy’s Geography

Ptolemy stands out among the ancient geographers as one of the most prominent ones and certainly the most influential one throughout the history of cartography that followed his era. Geographical research, which had displayed significant achievements by his time, culminated with his celebrated Geography, a methodologically trustworthy work, the first preserved one providing co-ordinates for thousands of places around the then known world. In this paper we will focus on the way in which the southern Black Sea appears in the Ptolemaic record. We shall deal with the coast’s division into provinces, the references to indigenous peoples, as well as all the places, both settlements and geographical features, which are listed in the relevant chapters of the Geography with their co-ordinates, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of this treatment. We will finish with a short evaluation of the way in which the area under study is presented in the Ptolemaic record. In this evaluation several characteristics of the Ptolemaic work should be taken into consideration: First of all, we cannot say for sure which parts of the text that is preserved today do indeed belong to Ptolemy, since some data might have undergone changes or corrections in several periods of time. Besides, the Geography has been preserved and transmitted to us through several codices from the 13th to 15th centuries, and there are numerous cases where these do not agree with each other on a place’s co-ordinates, exact name or other details. Finally, we should always keep in mind that Ptolemy’s Geography is a general geographical work dealing with the whole Oecumene without the intention to deal more thoroughly with a specific area, such as the Black Sea. All these notwithstanding, our examination shall confirm that Ptolemy’s Geography is still a valuable geographical work that fully justifies its enormous impact on later geographers and cartographers.

On the Coin Circulation in the South-Western Taurica in the Late Byzantine Period: A Few New Numismatic Rarities

The specifics of the monetary circulation of the Taurica during the classical Middle Ages are well known to modern specialists in Byzantine numismatics. It is characterized by the diversity of the money market and a wide variety of issuers. There appeared new discoveries expanding the geography and direction of the Crimean numismatic monuments from the Late Byzantine Period and replenishing them with important information. Among the numismatic finds from the period when the Byzantine Empire collapsed and, later, restored, there are local issues along with, so to speak, the money “brought from across the sea,” which circulated in the markets of the Taurica in this or that way. The coins in question comprised of the money minted by the Empires of Trebizond and Nicaea, Crusader states, and renovated Byzantium. Today, the said interpretation gets extra support from the finds to be introduced into the scholarship: the coins of Megaloi Komnenoi, such as a follaro of John III (1342–1344) and aspri of Manuel III (1390–1417) and John IV (1446–1458); a hyperpyron nomisma of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes (1222–1254) of Nicaea; a denier tournois of Doux Guillaume (William) I de la Roche (1280–1287) of Athens; a denaro tornese minted by the Genoese government of Chios in 1477–1487; a copper tetarteron of Andronikos II Palaiologos (1282–1328); and some other finds. These new coins are important evidence of trade and economic relations of the south-western Taurica with the regions of the Southern Black Sea, the Balkans and the Mediterranean and an impressive illustration of the administrative and political processes in the Black Sea area in Late Byzantine Period.

Wildfire hazard mapping in the eastern Mediterranean landscape

Background Wildfires are a growing threat to many ecosystems, bringing devastation to human safety and health, infrastructure, the environment and wildlife. Aims A thorough understanding of the characteristics determining the susceptibility of an area to wildfires is crucial to prevention and management activities. The work focused on a case study of 13 countries in the eastern Mediterranean and southern Black Sea basins. Methods A data-driven approach was implemented where a decade of past wildfires was linked to geoclimatic and anthropic descriptors via a machine learning classification technique (Random Forest). Empirical classification of fuel allowed linking of fire intensity and hazard to environmental drivers. Key results Wildfire susceptibility, intensity and hazard were obtained for the study area. For the first time, the methodology is applied at a supranational scale characterised by a diverse climate and vegetation landscape, relying on open data. Conclusions This approach successfully allowed identification of the main wildfire drivers and led to identification of areas that are more susceptible to impactful wildfire events. Implications This work demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed framework and settled the basis for its scalability at a supranational level.

Population abundance and growth parameters of an exotic bivalve species, Anadara kagoshimensis, in the Southwestern Black Sea

Blood cockle (Anadara kagoshimensis) is an Indo-Pacific species that later entered the Black Sea. The abundance of A. kagoshimensis, which is not subjected to commercial fishing, is important in terms of food competition with other bivalvia species. Baby clam (Chamelea gallina) together with the A. kagoshimensis are dominant bivalve species found in the sandy and muddy areas off the coastal waters of the Black Sea. In this study, specimens of A. kagoshimensis have been recognized by morphological analysis and also confirmed by molecular characterization. Furthermore, the abundance and growth parameters of A. kagoshimensis were investigated in the Southwestern Black Sea. Blood cockles were sampled between February 2011 and December 2012, seasonally. According to the Von Bertalanffy Growth Parameters (VBGP) the results were L$_{∞}$ = 81.96 mm, K = 0.32 year$^{-1}$, t$_{0}$ = -0.22 year, and nonseasonal L$_{∞}$ = 84.32 mm, K = 0.31 year$^{-1}$, t$_{0}$ = -0.21, WP = 0.65, t$_{s}$ = 0.15. The growth pattern showed the slope [b] = 2.96-3.01 in 2011 and 2012. The stock size was estimated according to two different years in 5 different subareas (Cide, İnebolu, Türkeli, Ayancık, and Sarıkum) and by 4 different strata (0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-15 m, and 15-20 m). Considering subareas, the A. kagoshimensis population in all subareas increased significantly in a single year. Compared to other regions, İnebolu was the main highly distributed area of the A. kagoshimensis, and also the estimated stock size was the highest in the region. Due to food competition with other commercial species (mainly Chamelea gallina) A. kagoshimensis is an ecology important species for the Southern Black Sea habitats. It is aimed to make contributions to Good Environmental Status (GES) and fisheries management in the region.

The Trade Centers Of The Southern Black Sea Region And The International Trade Relations Of Azerbaijan Before The Ottoman Invasion

Till the 1450s, the Ottoman Empire had no serious influence on the Black Sea coast yet. The Republics of Genoa and Venice, special trade colonies of on the shores of the Black Sea, were more active in commercial activities. The main trade Genoaese colony was the city of Kaffa, located in the Crimea. In the middle of the 15th century, European merchants tried to buy raw silk, imported from Azerbaijan, in the main trading centers of Genoa, Constantinople, and the Southern Black Sea region. The raw silk, imported from Gilan, Astrabad, Lahijan and Mazandaran, was bought by European merchants as a high-quality raw material in the listed trading centers. In the second half of the 15th century, the advance of the Ottoman empire to the west and the subsequent conquest of important trade centers in the Black Sea, Mediterranean and Aegean seas, where they traded with European countries, dealt a blow to the silk trade of Azerbaijan.

Striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina Linnaeus, 1758) fishery in the southern Black Sea coast: What does a fisherman's logbook tell?

Striped venus clam fishing has been carried out in the Black Sea coasts of Türkiye for a long time about 30 fishing vessel. In this fishery, which is maintained with hydraulic dredges, it cannot be said that administrative legislation has been fully developed. It is not entirely clear on what basis the fishing quota is in the fishery bans that change and develop day by day. Further standardization is required for selectivity of sieves. In this study, data covering 4 fishing seasons of a fishing vessel were standardized and processed. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) in terms of kilogram/minutes was calculated. Fishing activities according to season were carried out at Şile stations in 2017-2018, and in Sakarya in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, at Şile in the last season of 2020-2021. It was found out that the CPUE data was in a continuous downward trend within each season and in the following seasons. This situation reveals the necessity of questioning and rethinking the current daily catch quota (10 tons per day). In addition, the high proportion of waste and small-sized individuals in marketed catch is a sign of a selectivity problem. Therefore, stock determination, selectivity and daily catch quota applications of striped venus clam fishery should be rearranged.

Genetic population structure of the critically endangered stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) in the Black Sea basin: Implications for conservation

Abstract Stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) is a species of great conservation concern throughout its range. Over the past century, it has experienced a dramatic decline in abundance and distribution in the Black Sea basin. Information regarding the genetic structure of the species is very limited in the region, despite its crucial importance for developing adequate management plans for the species’ conservation and recovery. Samples from 163 A. stellatus were analysed using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers to investigate the species’ genetic characteristics in the north‐western and southern Black Sea. Both genetic markers revealed high genetic diversity (153 haplotypes and 264 alleles) and low genetic differentiation of marine and freshwater catches. The north‐western Black Sea population is undergoing a slight demographic expansion after a bottleneck event induced by overfishing and dam constructions. The genetic population structure indicates a single genetic cluster in the north‐western Black Sea region and signs of admixture of two genetic clusters in the southern region. It also provides the first evidence for a remnant reproductive stellate sturgeon micro‐population in rivers of Turkey and Georgia. A sturgeon fishing ban and stocking activities carried out during the last decades, largely without any prior genetic assessment of the sturgeon populations, added little conservation value. Outreach initiatives and urgent actions are required to foster the recovery of this Critically Endangered species in the region. Reconstruction of the connectivity of the rivers and the enhancement of habitats and spawning grounds are beneficial to all sturgeon species. An ex‐situ conservation programme for Turkish rivers which flow into the Black Sea would be beneficial to help conserve the genetic resources until the habitats and migration routes become functional. Moreover, genetic screening and recruitment programmes must be functional for all rivers flowing into the Black Sea.

Trace elements in edible tissues of the veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) in the southern Black Sea, Türkiye: sex, monthly, and age variations and human consumer health risk.

Coastal areas face significant pressures from a variety of human activities, owing primarily to population growth in these areas. Human activities produce a variety of contaminants, including trace metals, which are common forms of contamination that enter marine ecosystems. This study was carried out to provide information on trace element concentrations (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in the muscles of Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) available on Sinop coasts of the southern Black Sea and to evaluate the possible risk associated with their consumption. The minimum and maximum values (mg/kg wet weight) of trace elements in the edible tissue of R. venosa decreased in the following order: Zn (1.75-8.53) > Cu (0.41-4.6) > Cd (0.021-0.255) > Pb (0.013-0.037) > Hg (0.010-0.035). The measured levels of all the trace elements in the present study were lower than the limits permitted by the European Community Regulation (EU), Turkish guideline, and the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). The hazard index value of Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn for the veined rapa whelk is lower than standard 1, demonstrating that ingestion of this mollusk from the southern Black Sea does not result in overexposure to these contaminants. The risk index value for human cancer risk of Pb for all seasons was found to be insignificant. When comparing the levels of elements in males and females, significant differences were found in some months for all the metals. In general, the trace elements were detected in higher concentrations in females than in males. Both females and males have accumulated less trace elements with increasing age. This study was the first to show the distribution of trace elements as a function of age in R. venosa.

Juvenile Parasagitta setosa (J. Müller, 1847) (Chaetognatha) from Shallow Waters of the Southern Black Sea: Temporal Size Structure, Gonad Maturity, and Gut Content

The present study aimed to assess the abundance, body length, maturity stage, and gut content of Parasagitta setosa in the southern Black Sea, Turkey. The study was conducted twice a month from January 2008 to December 2008. Vertical hauls with a 112 μm mesh size plankton net were used from a depth of 50 m to the surface of the Sinop coast. During the study period, the abundance of this species was generally low, varying between 10 and 980 ind.m-2. In particular, the abundance of P. setosa was low from December to July but increased from August. Small size individuals were predominated, with both 1 – 1.99 mm and 2 – 2.99 mm size classes accounting for 62% of the total P. setosa sample. Four developmental stages were determined based on ovary and seminal vesicle development. Stage I (immature) was the predominant developmental stage in the P. setosa population. A total of 1580 individuals were dissected; however, only 53 individuals had food items in their gut (3.4%), with copepods (54.73%) accounting for the predominant group the food content. It was determined that the abundance values and feeding ratios of P. setosa were low in the coastal area of Sinop and new individuals join in the population during the summer-autumn period.

Spatial distribution and ecological risk evaluation of toxic metals in the southern Black Sea coastal sediments

Spatial distribution and ecological risk levels of toxic metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, As, Sr, V, and La) in sediments from the southern Black Sea coastal (Türkiye) were evaluated. The sediment samples were taken in April and May 2019 from thirty-one stations, from depths ranged between 16 and 65 m. The average metal concentrations (in dry weight) varied from 59.4 ± 4.8 to 102.5 ± 12.3 for Cu, 39.3 ± 4,1 to 46.1 ± 2.9 for Pb, 104.5 ± 4.7 to 126 ± 6.9 for Zn, 21.2 ± 1.8 to 24.9 ± 1.4 for Ni, 9.8 ± 0.4 to 16.6 ± 1.5 for As, 16.7 ± 0.5 to 18.2 ± 0.9 for Co, 68.2 ± 11.4 to 123.3 ± 13.5 for Sr, 82.7 ± 13.1 to 97.3 ± 4.3 for V, and 16.2 ± 1.8 to 23.6 ± 1.8 μg g−1 for La. Geoaccumulation index (IGEO), Sediment enrichment factor (SEF), and pollution load index (PLI) indicated that Cu and Pb are above the pollution limits. Thus, continuous pollution monitoring programs should be established. Moreover, measures should be implemented more effectively to prevent pollution.

Türkiye'nin Karadeniz Kıyılarında Yakalanan Sarda Sarda'da (Bloch, 1793) Ağır Metal Konsantrasyonları ve Sağlık Riski Değerlendirmesi

In this study, it was aimed to determine heavy metal levels in muscle tissues of Atlantic bonito samples caught in the Eastern Black Sea Region and to determine their potential to pose a risk to human health. The concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn, and Al have been measured in the edible muscle of Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda Bloch, 1793) from the Trabzon and Rize coasts of the southern Black Sea from September 2020 to December 2020. Cd, Cr, Co, and Ni were not detected in the edible part of S. sarda in both coastal areas. These concentrations are lower than the maximum permissible values in European and Turkish regulations. The average weekly intake of heavy metals per body weight value not exceeded the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) established. Therefore, it may be concluded that these ten metals should not pose any health threat to the consumers resulting from the consumption of S. sarda.

Morphological features of three species of Phyllodistomum (Trematoda: Gorgoderidae) from some marine fishes in the southern Black Sea

Three species of the genus Phyllodistomum Braun, 1899 are identified infecting marine teleost fishes from Sinop coast (southern Black Sea, Turkey). Those are Phyllodistomum acceptum from Parablennius sanguinolentus; Phyllodistomum crenilabri from Symphodus tinca and Symphodus ocellatus; and Phyllodistomum sp. from Gobius cruentatus. Standard parasitological investigation methods were implemented, and morphological diagnostic features of these species were studied in detail under both light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The measurement data of all morphological diagnostics are provided; photomicrographs of each part of the parasites are presented. Infection prevalence and intensity values are given, as well as morphometric data for each parasite species. This research is the first on Phyllodistomum sp. presence in Gobius cruentatus. Moreover, this study is the first one, in which the tegumental surface of P. acceptum and P. crenilabri was examined by scanning electron microscopy.

Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a serious threat to today's marine life. Therefore, this study investigates MP ingestion in three commercial fish species (European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, whiting Merlangius merlangus, and red mullet Mullus barbatus) from the Turkish coast of the Black Sea. Ninety-five MPs were detected in all examined fish (371). Fiber forms were detected in the majority of cases based on the MP morphology. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most dominant polymer type. The mean of ingested MPs was found as 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.28 ± 0.06, 0.40 ± 0.07 in anchovy, whiting and red mullet, respectively. The size of the MPs ranged from 118 μm and 4854 μm. The MP waste was detected in each species, and the highest MP amount was determined in the red mullet, which was significantly higher than European anchovy. The present study's data might be a baseline on the ecological risk assessment of MPs in the fish and future experimental studies on the fish species living in the Black Sea.

Mapping Onland River Channels up to the Seafloor along Offshore Cide-Sinop in the Southern Black Sea from the Perspective of the Black Sea Flooding

In order to investigate the submarine morphology of offshore Cide-Sinop from the perspective of the Black Sea flooding, the rivers, submarine channels and some spatial data were extracted by using General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO-2014) which is a seamless digital elevation and bathymetry grid (DEM), and Geographic Information System (GIS) software tools. The accuracy of extracted land rivers were controlled with 1/25K topo-maps by using buffer overlay method. The comparisons affirmed that the rivers are on ratio of 75% in 0-400 meters buffer distance. The derived submarine channels with a total of 1548 km length indicate that there is a dendritic drainage pattern with the flow direction from north to the south extending from coast to shelf plain, shelf break and converging toward the abyssal plain respectively in the study area. However, seismic profiles do not indicate any recent delta deposits on the shelf plain. The only some prograded delta deposits are determined at the shelf break in a limited area, where they coincide with the submarine channels derived in this study. These deposits are truncated from their top by an erosional surface which extends over the whole shelf plain. These results indicate that the derived submarine channels do not represent the current flow pattern offshore Cide-Sinop. Instead, they illustrate paleochannels that should be active during the last lowstand time, before the Black Sea Flood and their sedimentary influx should also control the developments of canyons located at the shelf edge at that time. However, the most of the canyons located on the shelf slope are under the influence of both submarine erosion and active tectonics at present.

Population dynamics and ecology of the invasive veined rapa whelk, Rapana venosa in the southern Black Sea

Spatial and temporal changes in some ecological characteristics (i.e. biomass, abundance, morphometrics, sex-composition, growth parameters and population dynamics) of the invasive veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) were studied off Sinop Bay, in the southern Black Sea. The whelk specimens were sampled from three depths (15 m, 25 m and 35 m) at monthly intervals between November 2005 and October 2007. Custom-made pots were deployed for the capture of R. venosa individuals. Monthly distributions in whelk biomass and abundance peaked in summer (June/July) and mid-autumn (October) and displayed no differences between 2006 and 2007. With the exception of gut weight, all morphometric variables produced three peak periods (January, June and September, respectively) over one year. Densities, morphometrics and sex composition were dictated significantly by bottom depth and monthly variation. Two stages were defined in the ovary and testis index maxima denoting longer spawning and recruitments periods starting as early as in March which is a different finding compared to previous studies from the Black Sea. For the estimation of population growth parameters, of the five morphometric variables analysed, siphon width was the best variable to produce clear size cohorts. Whelk growth in terms of shell length and width oscillated seasonally and ceased during February–March. Maximum age of the veined rapa whelk in the southern Black Sea was determined as 3.5 years corresponding to 7 cohorts. Among the environmental parameters, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity appeared to affect whelk densities. Results obtained here are important for better management of the whelk fishery in the Black Sea.

Spatial pattern and characteristics of the benthic marine litter in the southern Black Sea shelf

The abundance and characteristics of benthic marine litter in the southern Black Sea shelf were demonstrated. During the surveys, 671 litter items weighing 83.93 kg were collected from the stations. The average density by number and weight were 460.70 ± 99.71 n/km2 and 80.68 ± 48.06 kg/km2. The litter density was significantly higher at 10–20 m (646.09 ± 165.63 n/km2) compared to 20–30 m (165.53 ± 81.02 n/km2) and >30 m (413.87 ± 146.59 n/km2) depth classes. Plastic (69.03%) was the most abundant material by number, followed by textile (20.94%) and metal (5.68%). The litter composition differed between the no-trawl zone and trawl ground. Our results indicate that more detailed research is needed to understand the interaction of various factors influencing transportation and accumulation of marine litter in the Black Sea.

The Maximum Size and Age of Umbrina cirrosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in the World

On April 17, 2020, one male specimen of the shi drum, Umbrina cirrosa (Linnaeus, 1758) was measured as 104 cm in total length, weighed 11080 g, and 18 years old. The U. cirrosa were sampled at 2 m depth by using trammel net in Ordu at the southern Black Sea. Up to date, this length, weight and age are a new record for the maximum size of U. cirrosa. These measurements make it the largest individual in the world.

Morphological Characterization of Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) Populations in the Southern Black Sea (Turkey)

Morphological characteristics such as meristic counts and body shape have long been used in stock identification. Fifty striped seabream, Lithognathus mormyrus, individuals were sampled from the south Black Sea between January 2020 and November 2020. Morphometric characteristics were given as the percentage of total length (TL%). Species identification and shape differences between sexes of striped seabream were analyzed by different statistical methods. The biggest maximum length and weight values (TL=310 mm for TW=399.73 g) were found for the southern Black Sea in this study. The mean TL of female individuals (X=205.26 mm) was found higher than male individuals (X=199.10 mm). The TL% ratio of head length was found as 24.45% for all individuals. In this study, isometric growth (t=2.009, p>0.05) was determined for all individuals and the length-weight relationship (LWR) was found as W=0.013TL3.003 (r²=0.983). This study revealed that the morphological characteristics of L. mormyrus differ significantly between female and male individuals and the species may be a good example of sexual dimorphism. 

Age, Growth, Reproduction and Fecundity of the Sharpsnout Seabream (Diplodus puntazzo Walbaum, 1792) in the Black Sea Region

In this study, the Sharpsnout Seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) population parameters (age, sex composition, length-weight relationship (LWR), age-length relationship, growth parameters, condition factor, gonadosomatic index, reproductive) of the sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) in the southern Black Sea Region have been investigated. In the study carried out between April 2018 and March 2019, 276 sharpsnout seabream were sampled and the average length and weight were calculated as 30.0 cm and 463.9 g, respectively. Male and female ratio was determined as 1:1.32 (P>0.05). Age of fish varied between 0-9 years. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L∞=48.1 cm, k=0.2656 year-1 and t0=-1.6587 year for all individuals. The LWR was found as W=0.0399 L2.7212 for all individuals. Total mortality rate (Z=0.560), natural mortality rate (M=0.501) and fishing mortality rate (F=0.059), growth performance index (φ'=2.73) and condition factor value (K=1.55) were calculated. The maximum GSI value was 6.83 in September. Mean relative fecundity was calculated as 14695.4 eggs / 1g. The mean egg diameter was calculated as 486.83µm. This study is very important in terms of being the first study on this species in the Black Sea and will provide a source for future studies.

Dynamics of the number of grape thrips (Drepanothrips reuteri Uzel.) in grape agrocenoses of the Southern Black Sea region of Ukraine

Goal. To study population dynamics of grape thrips (Drepanothrips reuteri Uzel.) and determine the factors influencing the increase in the number and harmfulness in grape agrocenoses of the southern Black Sea region of Ukraine.
 Methods. Field surveys of vine plantations and counts of the number of pests were carried out according to generally accepted methods during 2017—2020 in conditions of research farms SE «EF Suvorov’s» and SE «EF Tairove» NSC «V.Ye. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking».
 Results. It was found that in the conditions of the southern Black Sea zone of Ukraine there is an increase in the species composition and area of sucking phytophages in grape agrocenoses, especially some species of thrips. Among herbivorous thrips, species characteristic of this zone grape (Drepanothrips reuteri Uzel.) and tobacco (Thrips tabaci Lind.), several more harmful species appeared: variegated (Frankliniella intonsa Trybom), yellow (Thrips flavus Schrank), nightshade (Thrips fuscipennis Haliday), pear (Taeniothrips inconsequens Usel) and greenhouse (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis Bouche). The number of thrips on grape leaves during the growing season is low — 0.3—4.8 motile individuals per 100 cm2 of leaf surface (corresponding to one average leaf), but the difference between susceptible and tolerant varieties can be traced even with a small presence of thrips. The highest degree of infestation and leaf damage was recorded in grape varieties without pubescence or with weakly pubescending leaves.
 Conclusions. Based on the results of the long-term (2017—2020) monitoring of the phytosanitary state of industrial grape plantations in the southern Black Sea region, it has been established that Thrips (Thysanoptera) occupy an important place among pests, the most common are grape thrips (Drepanothrips reuteri Uzel.), The mass development of which occurs every year during the flowering period of grapes. Research has established that the varietal composition of grape plantations and features climatic conditions of the southern Black Sea coast of Ukraine are favorable for overwintering, development, distribution and accumulation of numbers grape thrips and other sucking pests. It makes you spend constant monitoring, determination of biophenology in order to develop effective methods of regulating their quantity and harmfulness.