Meiobenthic bristle worms (Polychaeta) of the western Black Sea shelf

Abstract

Abstract The species composition, frequency and quantitative distribution of polychaetes (larvae, adult forms) which in size belong to meiobenthos have been studied. Thirty four species of polychaetes, six of which belong to eumeiobenthos have been discovered. In species composition the Bulgarian shelf (33 species) differs significantly from the Romanian (22 species) and Ukrainian (21 species). The mean density of assemblages is higher on the Bulgarian shelf. Maximum indices of abundance occur at a 15 m depth.

Keywords

• Key words: Black Sea, western shelf, meiobenthos, polychaetes, eumeiobenthos, pseudomeiobenthos.

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