261

Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 12 (2006), 261-267

National Centre for Agrarian Sciences

Structure and the Development of the Phytoplankton

(2001 2003) in the Bulgarian Wetlands, North Part
of the Black Sea
D. PETROVA
Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Varna, BG - 9000 Varna, Bulgaria

Abstract
PETROVA, D., 2006. Structure and the Development of the Phytoplankton (2001 2003) in the Bulgarian Wetlands, North Part of the Black Sea. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci.,
12: 261-267
The interest to the Bulgarian wetlands and the problems related to them increased in the last
few years. It implies a new understanding of the role and the importance of the wetlands apart
from they being used as resources. The dynamic in the phytoplankton development in Durankulak
and Shabla lakes enable the evaluation of the rate of the eutrophication of the system and
assessing the trophic state of the wetlands under investigation. Thus the phytoplankton, being
the first target of nutrient alterations, is considered to be a decisive factor for the quality of the
lake water and that of the ecosystems health. The samples were collected in April - JuneSeptember 2001 - 2003 in the surface waters. The present paper aims at characterizing more
thoroughly the qualitative and quantitative structure of the phytoplankton, to determine the
dominants species, to retrace seasonal dynamics of phytocenosis of the Bulgarian Black Sea
wetlands. The abundance and the biomass of the phytoplankton increased from April to September during the whole period of the investigation. The biomass predominantly was formed of
Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Diatoms species.

Key words: wetlands, Black Sea, lakes, phytoplankton, density, biomass

Abbreviations: DL-GO (Durankulak Lake-Golymo Ogledalo); DL-O (Durankulak Lake Ostrova);
DL-OB (Durankulak Lake Orlovo blato); SL-N (Shabla lake-North); SL-S (Shabla lake-South);
SL-EE (Shabla lake-Ezerets East); SL-EW (Shabla lake-Ezerets West); SL-ST (Shabla lake-Shabla
Tuzla)

Introduction
Both lakes are located in the north part
of the Black Sea. They are of the type of
a closed firth which is indented from the
sea by sand strip.
danibelbg@yahoo.com

The surface of Durankulak lake is about

3.4 km2 with a maximum depth of 4 meters,
while Shabla lake surface is four times less,
but with a depth of 9 meters (Bondev,
1982). Through their small industrial activity in the region, the lakes are saved
relatively clear. They are wetlands with

262
regard to the wintering of some rare birds
(Petrova, 2002). hey are ones of the
wetland of the BS coast of the Via Pontica
bird migration routes.

Material and Methods

Total 70 samples of phytoplankton were
collected in the Durankulak and Shabla
lakes in 2001 - 2003. The sampling was
performed at standard surface stations
(Figure 1).
Phytoplankton cells were examined and
enumerated under light microscope. Cell
volumes were calculated using geometrical formulae (Edler, 1979). Wet biomass
was assumed to be equal to cell volume.

Results and Discussion

The species composition in 2001 - 2003
was relatively diverse and traditionally

Fig. 1. Map of Durankulak and Shabla lakes

D. Petrova

dominated by Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta

and Chromophyta, represented by the
following major species: Chlorophyta:
Chlorophyceae-Scenedesmus,
Monoraphidium,Pediastrum,
Actinastrum, Kirchneriella, Trochiscia,
Treubaria, Oocystis, Closterium, yellowgreen Staurastrum, Tetraedron;
Cyanophyta Cyanophyceae Oscillatoria,Microcystis,
Merismopedia,nabaena,
Aphanizomenon,Phormidium;
Euglenophyceae - Euglena, Phacus;
Chromophyta: Bacillariophyceae Cyclotella,Thalassiosira,
Stephanodiscus, Pseudo-nitzschia, Navicula,
Amphora,
Pleurosygma,
Campilodiscus.
Other important groups in the phytoplankton community of the Durankulak
and Shabla lakes are: Dinophyceae Ceratium hirundinella, Protoperidinium
sp.; Cryptophyceae-Flagellates.
As a result of the investigations during
the period 2001 - 2003 a total of 74 species, varieties and forms have been identified. The maximum number of species
have been established in June, Durankulak
lake - Orlovo blato.
During spring the predominating species in terms of density was in DL-OB
(2.81 mln.cells/l); summer DL-OB (24.92
mln.cells.l-1) and SL-EE (11.15 mln.cells.l1
); autumn DL-O (20.3 mln.cells.l-1) and
SL-N (28.06 mln.cells.l-1) (Table 1).
The analysis recorded everywhere a
small size of phytoplankton with high productivity and heterotrophyc species of
Euglenophyta. The high density of too
large species of genus Euglena determined
naturally the high biomass of these areas.
In Figure 2 presented the densities of
phytoplankton from diferrent points of the
investigations. The maximal densities in

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Structure and the Development of the Phytoplankton (2001 2003)...

Table 1
Predominating phytoplankton species in 2001 - 2003 (densities, mln.cells.l-1) in Durankulak
and Shabla lakes

DL-GO

DL-O

DL-OB

SL-N

SL-S

SL-EE

SL-EW

SL-ST

04.2001-2003
Scenedesmus
Microcystis,
Aphanizomenon,
Closterium,
Euglena, Pediastrum

06.2001-2003
Scenedesmus, Anabaena
(1.55), Cyclotella (3.81)
Aphanizomenon,
Merismopedia
Microcystis (4.54)

Coelastrum,
onorhaphidium

onorhaphidium,
Anabaena
Pediastrum

Scenedesmus (2.24),
Monoraphidium (6.94),
Scenedesmus (2.81),
Microcystis, Euglena,
Monoraphidium (2.41),
Anabena (3.49)
Euglena
Oscillatoria (24.92)
Kirchneriella
Crucigenia,
Merismopedia (2.77)
Cyclotella,
Microcystis (4.79),
Scenedesmus
Monoraphidium, Euglena,
Lagerhemia
Scenedesmus,
Cyclotella (1.65)
Actinastrum (1.84)
Aphanizomenon,
Micractinium (2.09)
Microcystis,
Scenedesmus, Cyclotella
Aphanizomenon,
Monoraphidium,
Cyclotella
Micractinium, Anabaena,
Cyclotella, Scenedesmus Microcystis (11.15),
Lagerhemia
Cyclotella,
Merismopedia,
Coelastrum,
Oscillatoria (1.67),
onorhaphidium
Merismopedia,
Thalasiossira,
Anabaena, Scenedesmus
Phormidium
Scenedesmus
Monoraphidium
Pediastrum
Scenedesmus

09.2001-2003
Microcystis (4.3),
Anabaena (1.37),
Aphanizomenon (2.85),
Closterium (0.57)
Microcystis(20.3),
Anabaena,
Aphanizomenon (4.3),
Closterium,
Scenedesmus, Euglena
Euglena, Scenedesmus
(3.01), Crucigenia (1.34),
Monoraphidium (9.57),
Anabaena, Euglena,
Merismopedia (1.41)

Microcystis (28.06),
Anabaena,
Phormidium (1.54),
Euglena
Micractinium (2.31)
Microcystis (17.58),
Aphanizomenon
Melosira
Microcystis (19.83),
Cyclotella (2.36),
Aphanizomenon,
Pediastrum
Cyclotella, Scenedesmus
Aphanizomenon,
Cyclotella, Navicula
Microcystis, Anabaena,

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D. Petrova
DL-O

DL-OB

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

2001

September 2003

April 2003

June 2002

September 2001

DL-OB
DL-O
DL-GO

April 2001

Density, mln.cells/m

DL-GO

2002

2003

6000

Density, mln.cells/m 3

5000
4000
3000
2000

SL-ST

SL-EE

SL-EW

SL-S

SL-N

1000

Fig. 2. Density of phytoplankton in DL and

SL, 2001 - 2003

DL have been in June 2001 (DL-OB) 14.92 mln.cells.l-1 and September 2003
(DL-O) - 11.12 mln.cells.l-1. The high density in Dl-OB was formed by the
Cyanophyta (Oscillatoria sp., Anabaena, Microcystis aeroginosis) and
Chlorophyta(Scenedesmus,
Monoraphidium griffithii). This groups
of species dominated in two parts of
Durankulak lake, but with less concentrations.
The maximal density in SL have been
in September 2001 SL-S - 15.66
mln.cells.l-1 and the same season and same
please, but 2002 - 10.89 mln.cells.l-1 (Figure 3).
The higer density in SL was in SL-N
and SL-S (2001 and 2002) and was
formed by the Cyanophyta (Microcystis
aeroginosis previosly) and few species
from Chlorophyta.
During the whole period of the investigation in April the Chlorophyceae,
Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae
were dominated groups of densities. From
June till September the procent of
Cyanophyta have been increased and the
blooms of Microcystis, Anabaena and
Aphanizomenon were founded.
The high biomass was formed in June
2001 - 2003, Station Orlovo blato, with the
dominated species of Bacillariophyceae
(Cyclotella), Euglenophyta (E. deses, E.
acus) and Chlorophyta (Scenedesmus,
Monoraphydium).
This part of the lake has been established like eutrophycation area with pregnant in consequences. The high biomass
in Shabla lake was in June 2002 in SL-N,
was formed by the species Cyclotella
(Bacilariophyceae),
Chlorophyta
(Scenedesmus, Monoraphydium) and
Cyanophyta (Microcystis, Anabaena,
Phormidium).

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Structure and the Development of the Phytoplankton (2001 2003)...

30
DL-GO

DL-O

Biomass,
g/m3

2.5

DL-OB

25

SL-N
SL-S
SL-EE
SL-EW
SL-ST

Biomass, g/m3

20
1.5

15
1

10
0.5

Septem'03

June'03

April'03

Septem'02

June'02

April'02

Septem'01

June'01

12
DL

SL

10
8
6
4
2

Septem'03

June'03

April'03

Septem'02

June'02

April'02

Septem'01

June'01

0
April'01

Maximum algal biomass was founded

in June DL-OB. In SL-N the higher
bimass was established in June and September, but this value was decresed about
14 - fold in comprison with DL (Figure 4).
Figure 5 presented the multuannual
biomass in Dl and Sl. The most important
feature is the increase of summer biomass
in DL and summer-autumn biomass in SL.
The phytoplankton biomass confirm the
conclusion, that the DL is make higher
eutrophicational lake comparing to SL.
But there is a positive tendency of dynamics of phytoplankton since 2001. May
be reason is to mix more fresh and sea
waters then in 2003. In this time have been
established more changes in quantitative
structure of phytoplankton. There are
many sea species, not registered before,

Fig. 4. Biomass (g.m-3) of phytoplankton in

surface water of SL, 2001 - 2003

Biomass, g/m3

Fig. 3. Biomass (g.m-3) of phytoplankton in

surface water of DL, 2001 - 2003

April'01

Septem'03

June'03

April'03

Septem'02

June'02

April'02

Septem'01

June'01

April'01

Fig. 5. Biomass (g.m-3) of phytoplankton of

both lakes DL and SL

266

D. Petrova

A)

SL-N

SL-S

SL-EE

SL-EW

SL-ST

B)

3.5

3.5

2.5

2.5

1.5

1.5

1
DL-GO

DL-O

Septm'03

June'03

Septem'02

June'02

April'02

Septem'01

June'01

DL-OB

April'01

Septm'03

June'03

April'03

Septem'02

June'02

April'02

0
Septem'01

0
June'01

0.5

April'01

0.5

April'03

Fig. 6. Index of ShannonWeaver of phytoplankton in DL (A) and SL (B)

such Navicula and Melosira granulata

in Shabla lake.
The diversity index of Shannon-Weaver
was calculated as a classical measure of
stability (Figure 6). This index has been
decreased in SL in September 2001 - 2003
with predominating of 1 - 3 species, especially of Microcystis. The biodiversity in
DL was higher and showed the stability
of Durankulak Lakes biocenosis. There
was not degradation of the stability of ecosystems.
DL and SL have a poor species composition (Petrova, 2002). They are situated
in a region far away the industrial centers,
which is the reason of the preservation of
their hydrological conditions and bio-diversity.

Conclusions
There were several qualitative and
quantitative indices to decline ecological
status of Durankulak and Shabla Lakes
decreased in Diatom diversity, increased
in large-scale development in potentially
toxic species of Cyanophyta (Microcystis,Anabaena, Aphanizomenon), the
high biomass of species of genus Euglena
etc.
The high biomass in 2001 - 2003 was
established in DL-OB when in June2001
reported red tide-27.97 g.m-3. The same
situation, but 2 times less of biomass was
in June 2002 - 15.25 g.m-3. In 2003 the
high density and biomass analyzed in DL-

Structure and the Development of the Phytoplankton (2001 2003)...

OB, but the values have been less in

comparison with previous years.
The biomass in SL decreased in 2001
and was reported the least value of Index
of Shannon. It was a degradation of the
stability of the ecosystems. The next years
the situation have been changed, the same
index of species diversity showed higher
value comparing to 2001. There was not
stopped of degradation of systems, but
there was prevent the future increases in
phytoplankton biomass.
The main conclusion is that the DL is
more eutrophication region than SL. The
all safety measures have to ignore the factors for the eutrophication.

267

References
Bondev, I., 1982. Botanical-geographical regions. Geography of Bulgaria, BAS, 1: pp.
443-451.
Edler, 1979. Recommendations for marine biological studies in the Baltic Sea phytoplankton and chlorophyll. Baltic Marine Biologists, pp. 5-38.
Petrova, E. and S. Stoykov, 2002. The
zoobenthos from the Coastal Lakes on the
Northern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast during 2000 - 2001 years. Limnological reports, Proceedings of the 34th Conference,
Tulcea, Romania, pp. 337-345.