Current state of the macrophytobenthos of the Georgian coast

Authors

Minicheva G.G.1*, Tsetskhladze M.S.2
1 Institute of Marine Biology NAS of Ukraine, 37 Pushkinska Str., Оdesa 65048, Ukraine
2 Georgia National Environmental Agency, Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Biodiversity, 51 Rustaveli Str., Batumi 6010, Georgia

Section:

Ecology, Cenology, Conservation of Algae and their Role in Nature

Issue:

Vol. 31 No. 1 (2021)

Pages:

9–24

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15407/alg31.01.009

Abstract

Paper presents first data on seasonal and inter-annual features of macrophytobenthos of the Black Sea coast of Georgia. The study was conducted at four monitoring stations (Sarpi, Cape Zeleny, port Batumi, Tsikhisdziri) in different seasons of 2016–2019. A total of 27 species of macrophytes from the divisions Rhodophyta (13),Chlorophyta (9) and Ochrophyta (5) were identified. Their ecological activity was estimated based on the values of the specific surface of populations. The role of sensitive (S/Wp = 5–25 m2 ∙ m2 ∙ kg-1) and tolerant (S/Wp ≥ 25 m2 ∙ 2 ∙ kg-1) species in relation the quality of the marine environment in the structure benthic communities of macrophytobenthos was analyzed. Of the identified macrophytes, 8 species are classified as sensitive and 19 as tolerant. The largest number of sensitive species was found at Cape Zeleny and Tsihisdziri stations, which indicates a satisfactory ecological condition of these sites. At the Batumi port station, only tolerant species were recorded, which is evidence of a significant anthropogenic load in this area. Representatives of Rhodophyta demonstrated the greatest variability of ecological activity (325%). This allows them inhabit areas with different intensity of the primary production process. A regular relationship between the seasonal dynamics and the absolute values of macrophyte biomass was demonstrated. Communities in satisfactory ecological conditions, with a predominance of sensitive species and high biomass, demonstrate clear seasonal dynamics. The values of macrophyte biomass increase threefold in the spring and summer. Analysis of the year-on-year dynamics of macrophytobenthos along the coast of Georgia showed that 2016 was the most favorable year for macrophytobenthos communities.

Keywords:

macrophytobenthos, floristic composition, morphofunctional parameters, dynamics, Black Sea coast of Georgia

References

Aysel V., Dural B., Şenkardeşler A., Erduğan H., Aysel F. 2008. Marine algae and seagrasses of Samsun (Black Sea, Turkey). J. Black Sea/Mediter. Environ. 14: 53–67.

Black Sea biological diversity: Georgia. Black Sea environmental series. 1998. Vol. 8. New York: Unit. Nat. Publ. 167 p.

DIRECTIVE 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of marine environmental policy, 17 June 2008 (MSFD, 2008/56/EC).

Eremenko T.I. 1967. In: Biology of the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka. Рр. 126–143. [Еременко Т.И. 1967. Макрофитобентос. В кн.: Биология северо-западной части Черного моря. Киев: Наук. думка. С. 126–143].

Eremenko T.I. 1980. In: Guide to methods of biological analysis of sea water and bottom sediments. Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat. Pp. 170–177. [Еременко Т.И. 1980. Макрофитобентос. В кн.: Руководство по методам биологического анализа морской воды и донных отложений. Л.: Гидрометеоиздат. С. 170–177].

Guiry M.D., Guiry G.M. 2020. AlgaeBase. World-wide electron. publ. Nat. Univ. Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 15 July 2020.

Kalugina-Gutnik A.A. 1975. Phytobenthos of the Black Sea. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka. 248 p. [Калугина-Гутник А.А. 1975. Фитобентос Черного моря. Киев: Наук. думка. 248 с.].

Lisovskaya O.A., Nikitina V.N. 2010. Diversity of coastal macrophytobethos algae in the southern part of the Russian Black Sea coast. Bull. St. Petersburg State Univ. 3(1): 36–43. [Лисовская О.А., Никитина В.Н. 2010. Разнообразие водорослей прибрежного макрофитобетоса южной части российского побережья Черного моря. Вестн. СПбГУ. 3(1): 36–43].

Minicheva G.G. 2013. Use of the macrophytes morphofunctional parameters to asses ecological status class in accordance with the EU WFD. Mor. ekol. J. 12(3): 5–21.

Minicheva G.G. 2019. In: Proceedings of the All-Ukrainian Scientific Conference (Odesa, 29–31 May, 2019). Odesa. Pp. 12–16. [Мінічева Г.Г. 2019. Імплементація директиви ЄС про морську стратегію для державного моніторингу макрофітобентосу морських вод України. В кн.: Матеріали Всеукраїнської наукової конференції (29–31 травня 2019 р.). Одеса. С. 12–16].

Minicheva G.G., Zotov A.B., Kosenko M.N. 2003. In: GEF UNDP Black Sea Ecosystems Recovery Project. Prepr. Acad. Sci. Ukraine. Odessa branch Inst. Biol. Odessa. 32 p.

Minicheva G.G., Zotov A.B., Kosenko M.N. 2004. Possibilities of using the methodological apparatus of morpho-functional assessment of aquatic vegetation. Mor. Ekol. J. 3(3): 78–94. [Миничева Г.Г., Зотов А.Б., Косенко М.Н. 2004. Возможности использования методического аппарата морфофункциональной оценки водной растительности. Мор. экол. журн. 3(3): 78–94].

Minicheva G., Afanasyev D., Kurakin A. 2015. Black Sea monitoring guidelines. Macropphytobenthos. Secretariat commission protection Black Sea against pollution. Istanbul. 76 p.

The International Plant Names Index (IPNI). 2020. http://www.ipni.org (search 10.08.2020)

Vasnev S.A. 2001. Statistics: Tutorial. Moscow: Moscow State Univ. Print. Arts. 170 р. [Васнев С.А. 2001. Статистика: Учебное пособие. М.: МГУП. 170 с.].

Vinogradova K.L. 1974. Ulvic algae (Chlorophyta) of the seas of the USSR. Leningrad: Nauka. 166 р. [Виноградова К.Л. 1974. Ульвовые водоросли (Chlorophyta) морей СССР. Л.: Наука. 166 с.].

Zenkovich V.P. 1958. The shores of the Black and Azov seas. Moscow: Geografgiz. 373 p. [Зенкович В.П. 1958. Берега Чёрного и Азовского морей. М.: Географгиз. 373 с.].

Zinova A.D. 1967. Identification manual of green, brown and red algae of the Southern Seas of the USSR. Moscow, Leningrad: Nauka. 397 p. [Зинова А.Д. 1967. Определитель зелёных, бурых и красных водорослей южных морей СССР. М., Л.: Наука. 397 с.].

Citation

Minicheva G.G., Tsetskhladze M.S. 2021. Current state of the macrophytobenthos of the Georgian coast. Algologia. 31(1): 9–24. https://doi.org/10.15407/alg31.01.009