Long-term changes in Sevastopol Bay (the Black Sea) with particular reference to the ichthyoplankton and zooplankton

Interdisciplinary physical, chemical and planktonic studies in 1998 showed that the growth in anthropogenic inputs over the previous 25 years has led to an increase in nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and total suspended matter content, and to a decrease in oxygen concentration of the near bottom layer in Sevastopol Bay. The situation has been exacerbated by the construction of seawalls narrowing the exit channel of the Bay. There has also been a marked decline in species diversity, in zoo- and ichthyoplankton abundance and an increase in mortality of planktonic organisms. The result is that Sevastopol Bay has lost its importance as a fishery.