Distribution of Macroalgae and Seaweed in the Azov Sea,
Kerch Strait, and Taman Bay

O. V. Stepanian

Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Murmansk, Russia

Southern Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

E-mail: step@mmbi.krinc.ru

Received April 02, 2007; in final form April 02, 2008

Abstract—The analysis of the macroalgae distribution along the salinity gradient in the Azov Sea, the Kerch
strait, and Taman Bay during the summer allowed finding two macroalgae complexes. The first complex (brack-
ish) is formed by algae belonging to the Enteromorpha, Cladophora, Rhizoclonium, and Chaetomorpha genera
in the Taganrog Gulf. The second complex (marine) with dominating algae belonging to the Enteromorpha,
Chaetomorpha, Ceramium, and Polysiphonia inhabits the littoral part of the Azov Sea itself, the Kerch Strait,
and Taman Bay. The saprobe analysis of the flora showed that the majority of macroalgae species inhabiting the
Azov Sea are represented by meso- and polysaprobes and a small number of oligosaprobe species inhabit the
Kerch Strait. The biggest species diversity of macroalgae was noted in the southwestern part of the sea; the
value of Shannon’s index was 0.65 in the Taganrog Gulf, 1.04 in the Azov Sea, 1.38 in Taman Bay. The leading
role in the littoral communities of Taganrog Gulf belongs to aquatic flowering plants with Potamogeton perfo-
liatus being dominant; as the salinity increases, the share of such species as P. pectinatus, Zostera marina,
Z.noltii, Ruppia maritime, and Zannichellia major starts to increase.

DOI: 10.1134/S0001437009030084

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