MACROBENTHIC COMMUNITIES OF THE PECHORA SEA - THE PAST AND THE PRESENT ON THE THRESHHOLD OF THE PRIRAZLOMNOYE OIL-FIELD EXPLOITATION

On data of bottom sampling, carried out by means of grab, trawl and un derwater photography in August-September of 1993 in the area of the Pe chora Sea, quantitative regularities of macrobenthos distribution are described for the ecological monitoring purposes. Maps of alpha-biodiv ersity and biomass indices, bottom communities and trophic zones, sing led out by dominant method, are presented. Assessment of structure cha nges of the investigated area bottom communities during the last 60-70 years is fulfilled, It is shown that the described communities on the whole are of natural undisturbed character and that the revealed chan ges are within the natural fluctuations in the abundance of benthic po pulations or may be interpreted in terms of methodical differences in the data analysis and generalization by different authors. (C) 1997 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.