Recent Data on Benthic Populations from the Sandy Bottom Community in the Marine Zone of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (ROSCI0066)

Abstract

ROSCI0066 Danube Delta - marine zone, a Community importance site, under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC requirements adopted by Decision 2009/92/EC, besides the SCI status, also has protected area status in the national network, it is RAMSAR site, UNESCO site and coresponds to the geographical unit of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve - Black Sea marine zone, from the Danube mouth - Chilia branch to Cape Midia, to the south and up to the 20 m isobath, to the east. The marine zone of the Danube Delta is particular due to the major influence of Danube waters and sediments deposited by them, and here are found sedimentary habitats unique at the Romanian littoral. The habitats identified in ROSCI0066 Danube Delta - marine zone are: 1110 - Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time; 1130 - Estuaries; 1140 - Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide. The paper presents the results of research conducted in ROSCI0066 concerning the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the benthic community that characterizes the sedimentary bottoms. In order to conduct the study, samples were collected from 11 stations (Sulina - Vadu profiles), between 10 m and 17 m depths, during 2011-2012. The analysis of structural indicators (species composition, frequency, abundance, biomass) allowed to underline some conclusions concerning the ecological status of the macrozoobenthos from the considered biocoenosis.