Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)

Long-term data on the phytoplankton of the Bulgarian Black Sea (BBS) coast describe three states for the ecosystem: a “pristine” reference phase (1954–1970 years); an intensive anthropogenic eutrophication (1970–1992 years) phase; and a post-eutrophication phase after the early 1990s of the 20th cen...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Daniela Klisarova, Dimitar Gerdzhikov, Petya Dragomirova, Nina Nikolova, Martin Gera, Petya Veleva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/2/105
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849719528808775680
author Daniela Klisarova
Dimitar Gerdzhikov
Petya Dragomirova
Nina Nikolova
Martin Gera
Petya Veleva
author_facet Daniela Klisarova
Dimitar Gerdzhikov
Petya Dragomirova
Nina Nikolova
Martin Gera
Petya Veleva
author_sort Daniela Klisarova
collection DOAJ
description Long-term data on the phytoplankton of the Bulgarian Black Sea (BBS) coast describe three states for the ecosystem: a “pristine” reference phase (1954–1970 years); an intensive anthropogenic eutrophication (1970–1992 years) phase; and a post-eutrophication phase after the early 1990s of the 20th century. The eutrophication period is characterised by ecosystem degradation and intense phytoplankton blooms, some of which were formed by the potentially toxic species <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i>. This warm-water species is a red tide former that is associated with fish and shellfish mortality events. In the 1980s, <i>L. polyedra</i> reached the highest biomass of 84.4 g·m<sup>−3</sup> in Varna Bay, BBS. The aim of this study (1992–2022) was to provide an overview of the development of <i>L. polyedra</i> in the phytoplankton biocenosis in the Bulgarian part of the Black Sea, taking into account the influence of anthropogenic stress and the climatic variables NAO and SST on the development of the species population. An analysis of the distribution of the dinoflagellate <i>L. polyedra</i> is based on a total of 5126 phytoplankton samples collected during the period between 1992 and 2022 under projects led by the Institute of Fish Resources, Varna. The samples were analyzed using standard methods validated for the Black Sea, and phytoplankton abundance and biomass were determined. The species are most abundant in summer in the coastal marine areas exposed to anthropogenic influence. During the analyzed period, a decrease in the abundance and biomass of <i>L. polyedra</i> in Bulgarian Black Sea waters were observed. It was found that the influence of climatic factors such as NAO and SST on the species population is from weak to moderate, and the correlation with NAO cycles is better expressed.
format Article
id doaj-art-c96c9f23a19c49c8b2b533eba78f5d16
institution DOAJ
issn 1424-2818
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Diversity
spelling doaj-art-c96c9f23a19c49c8b2b533eba78f5d162025-08-20T03:12:08ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-01-0117210510.3390/d17020105Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)Daniela Klisarova0Dimitar Gerdzhikov1Petya Dragomirova2Nina Nikolova3Martin Gera4Petya Veleva5Department of Anatomy, Histology, Cytology and Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, 5800 Pleven, BulgariaInstitute of Fish Resources, Agricultural Academy, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaDepartment of Anatomy, Histology, Cytology and Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, 5800 Pleven, BulgariaFaculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 1000 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics, Comenius University, 842 48 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, BulgariaLong-term data on the phytoplankton of the Bulgarian Black Sea (BBS) coast describe three states for the ecosystem: a “pristine” reference phase (1954–1970 years); an intensive anthropogenic eutrophication (1970–1992 years) phase; and a post-eutrophication phase after the early 1990s of the 20th century. The eutrophication period is characterised by ecosystem degradation and intense phytoplankton blooms, some of which were formed by the potentially toxic species <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i>. This warm-water species is a red tide former that is associated with fish and shellfish mortality events. In the 1980s, <i>L. polyedra</i> reached the highest biomass of 84.4 g·m<sup>−3</sup> in Varna Bay, BBS. The aim of this study (1992–2022) was to provide an overview of the development of <i>L. polyedra</i> in the phytoplankton biocenosis in the Bulgarian part of the Black Sea, taking into account the influence of anthropogenic stress and the climatic variables NAO and SST on the development of the species population. An analysis of the distribution of the dinoflagellate <i>L. polyedra</i> is based on a total of 5126 phytoplankton samples collected during the period between 1992 and 2022 under projects led by the Institute of Fish Resources, Varna. The samples were analyzed using standard methods validated for the Black Sea, and phytoplankton abundance and biomass were determined. The species are most abundant in summer in the coastal marine areas exposed to anthropogenic influence. During the analyzed period, a decrease in the abundance and biomass of <i>L. polyedra</i> in Bulgarian Black Sea waters were observed. It was found that the influence of climatic factors such as NAO and SST on the species population is from weak to moderate, and the correlation with NAO cycles is better expressed.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/2/105Black Seaphytoplanktondinoflagellates<i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i>abundancebiomass
spellingShingle Daniela Klisarova
Dimitar Gerdzhikov
Petya Dragomirova
Nina Nikolova
Martin Gera
Petya Veleva
Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)
Diversity
Black Sea
phytoplankton
dinoflagellates
<i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i>
abundance
biomass
title Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)
title_full Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)
title_fullStr Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)
title_full_unstemmed Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)
title_short Dynamics of <i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i> Development in the Bulgarian Part of Black Sea (1992–2022)
title_sort dynamics of i lingulodinium polyedra i development in the bulgarian part of black sea 1992 2022
topic Black Sea
phytoplankton
dinoflagellates
<i>Lingulodinium polyedra</i>
abundance
biomass
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/2/105
work_keys_str_mv AT danielaklisarova dynamicsofilingulodiniumpolyedraidevelopmentinthebulgarianpartofblacksea19922022
AT dimitargerdzhikov dynamicsofilingulodiniumpolyedraidevelopmentinthebulgarianpartofblacksea19922022
AT petyadragomirova dynamicsofilingulodiniumpolyedraidevelopmentinthebulgarianpartofblacksea19922022
AT ninanikolova dynamicsofilingulodiniumpolyedraidevelopmentinthebulgarianpartofblacksea19922022
AT martingera dynamicsofilingulodiniumpolyedraidevelopmentinthebulgarianpartofblacksea19922022
AT petyaveleva dynamicsofilingulodiniumpolyedraidevelopmentinthebulgarianpartofblacksea19922022