Transformation of Benthic Communities in Pechora Bay
and the Probable Loss of the Portlandia aestuariorum Population
in the Typical Habitat
P. Yu. Dgebuadzea, *, A. B. Basinb, M. V. Chikinab, A. A. Udalovb, A. A. Balakinc, I. L. Razgonc,
Yu. V. Ermilovac, V. A. Chavac, A. A. Gebrukc, d, N. V. Shabalinc, and V. O. Mokievskyb
a A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
b Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
c Lomonosov Moscow State University Marine Research Center, Moscow, Russia
d University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences, Edinburgh, UK
Correspondence to: *e-mail: p.dgebuadze@gmail.com
Received 7 December, 2020
Abstract—A benthic survey is carried out at the typical location of the bivalve species Portlandia aestuariorum in the Pechora Bay of the Barents Sea. The benthic survey using trawling and grab sampling is carried out at seven sampling stations along a transect in the bay. Not a single specimen of P. aestuariorum is found in the samples. The whole surveyed bay area is occupied by the oligomictic community dominated by the bivalve mollusk Limecola balthica.
Keywords: Pechora Bay, bivalve mollusks, Portlandia aestuariorum, Limecola balthica, benthic communities
DOI: 10.1134/S0001437021060059