Zooplankton biomass responses to contrasting macrophyte PVI in brackish lagoons of the Black Sea
BIOLOGIA, cilt.81, sa.197, ss.1-11, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 81 Sayı: 197
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11756-026-02269-3
- Dergi Adı: BIOLOGIA
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Zoological Record
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-11
- Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The aim of this study was to evaluate how submerged macrophytes influence zooplankton biomass in brackish coastal
lagoons. We compared two shallow lagoons in the Kızılırmak Delta (Black Sea, Türkiye) that are connected by artificial
channels but differ markedly in plant volume inhabited (PVI). Seasonal sampling was conducted from autumn 2015 to summer
2016 to assess macrophyte PVI, zooplankton biomass, and planktivorous fish diet composition. In Balık Lagoon, where
macrophyte PVI remained low year-round, zooplankton biomass was not significantly related to PVI (p > 0.05). In contrast,
Uzungöl Lagoon exhibited consistently high PVI, and zooplankton biomass, except for Cladocera, was negatively associated
with PVI. Community parameters (Shannon diversity, Pielou’s evenness, Margalef richness) did not differ significantly
between the lagoons. Zooplankton comprised a substantial portion of planktivorous fish stomach contents, indicating strong
top-down control. Our results suggest that, in brackish systems, high macrophyte PVI does not necessarily correspond to
higher zooplankton biomass, and refuge effects may be weak due to intense predation. These findings contribute to understanding
the ecological dynamics of transitional coastal systems in the Black Sea region.