Meiobenthic Assemblages of the Laspi Bay (Crimea, Black Sea): Taxonomic Diversity and Quantitative Development

Year 2023, Volume: 19 Issue: 1, 58 - 70, 01.03.2023

Nelli G. Sergeeva , Tatiana N. Revkova , Derya Ürkmez

https://doi.org/10.22392/actaquatr.1169181

Cited By: 2

Abstract

It is known that degassing processes are currently observed in the underwater part of the beach zone of Laspi Bay (the southern coast of Crimea). The site of gas emissions (methane) is confined to the coastal part of the bay and located at a distance of 15.0 – 40.0 m from the coastline. Data on the taxonomic richness and quantitative development of meiobenthos in Laspi Bay (2017) are presented for the first time in this study. The meiobenthic assemblages of the studied area were very diverse including representatives of 24 high taxa from Protozoa and Metazoa (phylum, class, order). The most numerous group at almost all stations was the free-living nematodes. The taxonomic richness by station did not reveal any noticeable variability, including 12 to 18 faunal groups, while an unevenness of spatial distribution in the density of meiobenthic settlements was clearly expressed. Minimum values of 63.2×103–72.9×103 ind./m2 were noted in the seaward zone, and maximum values of 1368×103–2051×103 ind./m2 in the eastern coast where localized methane seepage areas were observed.

Keywords

Methane seeps, Meiofauna, Protozoa, Metazoa, Abundance

Supporting Institution

Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas. A.O. Kovalevsky RAS, Sevastopol

Project Number

No. 121040500247-0 and 121030100028-0

Thanks

The authors are deeply grateful to the Department of Benthic Ecology of A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, to A.N. Petrov for organizing the expedition to Laspi Bay and L.F. Lukyanova for her help in the primary processing of bottom sediments. N.A. Orekhova and E.I. Ovsyany are acknowledged for the analysis of geochemical composition of sediment samples.

Laspi Körfezi (Kırım, Karadeniz) Meiobentik Toplulukları: Taksonomik Çeşitlilik ve Kantitatif Büyüme

Abstract

Laspi körfezi (Kırım’ın güney kıyıları)’nin sahil bölgesinde deniz tabanından gaz çıkışları olduğu bilinmektedir. Söz konusu gaz (metan) sızıntı alanları, körfezin kıyı kesimi ile sınırlı kalmaktadır ve kıyıdan 15.0-40.0 m mesafede yer almaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Laspi Körfezi meiobentosunun (2017) taksonomik zenginliği ve kantitatif büyümesi hakkında ilk veriler sunulmaktadır. Çalışma bölgesindeki meiobentik topluluklar çok çeşitlilik göstermiş ve Protozoa ve Metazoa’ya ait 24 yüksek takson (filum, sınıf, ordo) kaydedilmiştir. Neredeyse tüm istasyonlarda en bol bulunan organizma grubu serbest-yaşayan nematodlar olmuştur. İstasyonlardaki taksonomik zenginlik dikkate değer bir değişkenlik göstermemiş, her istasyonda 12-18 faunal grup tespit edilmiştir. Ancak meiobentik toplulukların yoğunluğunda düzensiz bir dağılım kaydedilmiştir. Doğu kıyısında, metan gazının çıktığı lokal alanlarda maksimum değerlere (1368×103–2051×103 birey/m2) ulaşılırken, denize doğru ilerledikçe minimum değerler (63.2×103–72.9×103 birey/m2) gözlenmiştir.

Keywords

Meiofauna, Protozoa, Metazoa, Metan sızıntı kaynakları, Bolluk

Project Number

No. 121040500247-0 and 121030100028-0

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