Mesozooplankton
Dynamics
in The Romanian Black Sea Waters During 2020-2021
Elena BIȘINICU1,,
George Emanuel Harcotă1, 2,
Adrian fILIMON1,
Valeria aBAZA1, Mihaela Cosmina tănAse1, Florin tIMOFTE1
1 Scientific Researcher, National Institute for
Marine Research and Development Grigore Antipa ,
Constanța, Romania, (ebisinicu@alpha.rmri.ro)
2 Drd., PhD, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
Abstract. The
composition and space-time distribution of mesozooplankton community from the
Romanian Black Sea waters during 2020-2021 was analysed. Sampling was carried out
during two expeditions (October 2020, September 2021), resulting a number of
133 samples. A total of 21 taxa were identified, the maximum being recorded in
2020, with nine taxa among copepods. Variations were observed between the two
cruises, the mesozooplankton community being best represented in October 2020,
when the highest density and biomass values were observed. The fodder component
of the mesozooplankton community was dominant both in 2020 and 2021, Noctiluca
scintillans (the nonfodder component) being less represented, with lower
density and biomass values. From the fodder component, Copepoda represented the
bulk of the community, with the highest values in 2020, followed by Cladocera
with a maximum development in 2021. Branchiostoma lanceolatum larvae were
identified in 3 stations in 2020 and in one station in 2021 at different sampling
depths.
Keywords: taxa,
abundance, biomass, Branchiostoma lanceolatum
DOI https://doi.org/10.56082/annalsarscibio.2023.1.29
