SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF SETTLEMENTS OF BIVALVES LUCINELLA DIVARICATA AND GOULDIA MINIMA ON THE NORTHEASTERN SHELF OF THE BLACK SEA

  • G. A. Kolyuchkina Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • N. A. Danilova Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences; Department of Biology, University of Padova
  • I. V. Lyubimov Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences; Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology – K. I. Scriabin MBA
  • E. L. Teternikova Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences; Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology – K. I. Scriabin MBA
  • V. Yu. Fedulov Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • E. A. Streltsova Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.29006/1564-2291.JOR-2025.53(1).7
Keywords benthos, subtidal, Bivalvia, Lucinidae, Veneridae, gonad maturity, histological analysis, life span

Abstract

The vertical distribution, abundance dynamics, size composition and reproduction timing of two common bivalve species Lucinella divaricata and Gouldia minima in the coastal waters of the narrow shelf of the northeastern sector of the Black Sea (near the Divnomorskoye settlement) were assessed. The data was collected in the spring, summer, autumn and winter of 2023 and in the spring and summer of 2024. The most abundance of L. divaricata was noted at a depth of 15 m on clean sands (silt content less than 10 %) and a low level of organic carbon (less than 0.3 %). Mass settlements of G. minima were found at 40 m on silted shells with silt content of 40–60 % and organic carbon of 1–1.5 %. The shell length increase of L. divaricata reached 3 mm per year, G. minima – more than 6 mm per year. Gonadal maturation in L. divaricata in 2023 was observed in the summer season, and in G. minima in the late autumn season. The highest biomass and abundance of L. divaricata settlements were reached in summer, but in summer 2024 these values were on average 1.5–2.0 times lower than in summer 2023. The abundance of G. minima decreased in 2023 from April to September, and in 2024 it was 2 times lower than in 2023. The highest biomass of G. minima was reached in spring and summer, and its biomass was lowest in September. In 2024, both species showed an increase in the average size of juveniles and more gentle peaks on size-frequency histograms, delayed development of gonads and reduced abundance of juveniles in settlements compared to 2023. The possible lifespan of individuals in settlements and the reasons for the weak recruitment of juveniles in the first half of 2024 in both species are discussed.

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Published
2025-03-25
Issue
Vol 53 No 1 (2025): Journal of Oceanological Research
Section
Ecology of seas and oceans

Transfer of copyrights occurs on the basis of a license agreement between the Author and Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, RAS

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