The Seasonal Dynamics of Cystoseira crinita Duby, 1830 (Fucales: Phaeophyceae)-Dominated Communities in the Northeastern Black Sea

Abstract

The structure and seasonal dynamics of marine algal communities dominated by Cystoseira crinita Duby, 1830 were studied in the northeastern Black Sea at depths of 2, 5, and 10 m. Seasonal fluctuations were found to be mainly manifested in biomass changes of the dominant species C. crinita at depths of 2 and 5 m. No seasonal changes in the studied parameters of communities were found at a depth of 10 m. The mean annual production of C. crinita was 1472.3 g/m², with the maximum at a depth of 5 m (2148.1 g/m²). The minimum production was observed at a depth of 10 m. At all depths, the production of C. crinita was highest in the spring; this index had zero values in the fall and winter.