The Black Sea algae Cystoseira crinita (Desf.) Bory and C. barbata C. Ag. catalase activity (CA) and its variability at depths of 1–10 m were studied. CA of investigated species was found to decrease by depth. CA of C. crinita decreased from 450 to 12 mkg H₂O₂/g tissue∙min, while C. barbata CA decreased from 250 to 1.7 mkg H₂O₂/g tissue∙min. The C. crinita CA maximum was observed in the spring at a depth of 1 m, and in winter the C. crinita CA maximum was observed at 3–5 m depth. Cystoseira barbata CA maximum was discovered at a depth of 3–5 m, depending on the seasons. The maximum values of the studied species CA was observed in spring, which was probably connected to reproduction processes of CA response to pollution, but a certain tendency to decrease CA of the investigated species was observed.

Keywords: brown algae, Cystoseira crinita, C. barbata, antioxidant enzymes, catalase activity, adaptation, depth, pollution, Black Sea

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