Abstract
The Black Sea ecosystem and diversity underwent dramatic adverse changes during the 1960s and, especially, 1970s and 1980s of the last century. Anthropogenically-induced eutrophication increased through greater biogenic flow, dumping and pollutant discharge, in turn causing red tides, fish kills and oxygen depletion over the northwestern shelf.
Anthropogenic pressures, associated with the economic situation of the Black Sea countries, has decreased during the last decade, allowing some improvement in the state and biodiversity of the ecosystem. The abundances of several native species have increased. However, mediterranization—the invasion by species from the adjacent basin and beyond—has continued.
The conclusion is grounded, that biodiversity is not only inter- and intra-species diversity but also spatial–temporal variability, abundance and productivity dynamics, differences of the metabolic strategies providing sustainable existence in the changing environment. Biodiversity at the intra-species level expresses itself in spatial and temporal variations of the Black Sea biota.
It has been shown, that рreservation of the Black Sea ecosystem’s biodiversity must be based on the measures which should be undertaken in national and social spheres, and be directed to the recreation, stabilization and conservation of this unique sea basin.
Measures must be implemented nationally to conserve, stabilize or recreate the ecosystem biodiversity of this unique sea basin.
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We present our sincere gratitude to all scientific IBSS staff for active discussion of the materials obtained, and for valuable remarks.
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Tokarev, Y., Shulman, G. Biodiversity in the Black Sea: effects of climate and anthropogenic factors. Hydrobiologia 580, 23–33 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0468-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0468-6