Do you know what the Black Sea is? Most people will say, “Yes, of course!” After reading this article, you will understand that you were previously familiar with the Black Sea very superficially.
Flora and fauna of the Black Sea
The current appearance of the Black Sea has evolved over the past millennium. Surprisingly, this sea has the lowest s alt content in the entire globe. Because of this, it is very gentle on our skin.
The Black Sea is the northernmost subtropics. On its coasts you can admire palm trees, eucalyptus, magnolias, meadow grasses and many other representatives of the plant world. The connection of the Black Sea with the Mediterranean is due to a diverse fauna. The Black Sea, of course, is not so rich in representatives of the animal world, nevertheless, it is quite interesting for research. Now about everything in more detail.
Plant world
Today, the fauna of the sea includes 270 species of algae: green, brown, red bottom algae (cystoseira, phyllophora, zoster, cladophora, ulva, etc.). Phytoplankton is very diverse - about 600 species. Among them are dinoflagellates, diatoms and others.
Animal world
Compared to the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea has much poorer fauna. The Black Sea has become a haven for 2.5 thousand species of animals. Among them are 500 unicellular, 500 crustaceans, 200 mollusks, and 160 vertebrates. Everything else is various invertebrates. The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea, for comparison, is represented by 9 thousand species.
The Black Sea is characterized by a wide range of water salinity, moderately cold water and the presence of hydrogen sulfide at great depths. All this is due to the relatively poor fauna. The Black Sea is suitable for unpretentious species that do not need great depths at all stages of their development.
At the bottom of the sea live oysters, mussels, pecten and a predatory mollusk - rapana, which was brought by Far Eastern ships. Crabs and shrimps can be found among the stones and crevices of the coastal cliffs. The fauna of the chordates of the Black Sea is quite poor, but for divers and researchers it is quite enough. There are also several species of jellyfish (mainly Cornerot and Aurelia), sponges and sea anemones.
Flora and fauna of the Black Sea: the names of fish
The following types of fish are found in the Black Sea:
- goby (golovach, whip, round timber, martovik, rotan),
- hamsa (Azov and Black Sea),
- katran shark,
- five types of mullet,
- flounder-glossa,
- hake (hake),
- bluefish,
- red mullet,
- sea ruff,
- mackerel,
- scad,
- Haddock,
- herring,
- tulka andothers.
Sturgeon species are also found: beluga, sturgeon (Azov and Black Sea). The fauna of the Black Sea is not so poor - there are quite a lot of fish here.
There are also dangerous species of fish: sea dragon (the most dangerous - poisonous spines of gill covers and dorsal fin), scorpion fish, stingray, on the tail of which there are poisonous spikes.
Birds and mammals
So, the inhabitants of the Black Sea, who are they? Let's talk a little about the small representatives of the fauna. Of the birds, one can distinguish: gulls, petrels, diving ducks and cormorants. Mammals are represented by: dolphins (common dolphin and bottlenose dolphin), harbor porpoise (also called the Azov dolphin) and white-bellied seal.
Rapana is a guest from the Far East
Some inhabitants of the Black Sea did not originally live in it. Most of them came here through the Bosporus and Dardanelles. The reason for this was the current or their personal curiosity.
The predatory mollusk rapana came to the Black Sea in 1947. To date, he has eaten almost the entire population of oysters and scallops. Young rapans, having found a victim for themselves, drill through its shell and drink the contents. Adult individuals hunt a little differently - they secrete mucus, which paralyzes the victim's valves and allows the predator to eat the mollusk without any problems. Nothing threatens the rapana itself, because due to the low salinity of the water in the sea there are no its main enemies - starfish.
Rapana is edible. She tastesresembles a sturgeon. It is generally accepted that the rapana is the closest relative of the endangered molluscs, from the shells of which the Phoenicians made purple dye.
Shark Katran
The marine fauna of the Black Sea is not very diverse, but quite interesting. There is even one species of sharks in it. This is a prickly shark, or, as it is also called, a katran. It rarely grows more than a meter in length and tries to keep to the depths, where the water is colder and there are no people. Among fishermen, the katran is considered a real trophy. The fact is that shark liver oil has healing properties. However, the shark can be dangerous to humans, as its dorsal fins are spiked with poison.
Jellyfish
Most often in the sea there are two types of jellyfish: Aurelia and Cornerot. Cornerot is the largest jellyfish of the Black Sea, while Aurelia, on the contrary, is the smallest. Aurelia, as a rule, does not grow more than 30 centimeters in diameter. But the cornerot can reach 50 cm.
Aurelia is not poisonous, and Cornerot, in case of contact with a person, can cause a burn similar to a nettle burn. It causes slight redness, burning, in rare cases - even blisters. Cornerot has a bluish color with a purple dome. If you see this jellyfish in the water, just grab it by the dome and take it away from you. The dome, unlike the tentacles, is not poisonous.
Some vacationers on the beaches of the Black Sea are deliberately looking for a meeting with a poisonous jellyfish. They believe that Cornerot poison hashealing properties. Rumor has it that by rubbing your body with a jellyfish, you can cure yourself of sciatica. This is a misconception that has no scientific or practical justification. Such therapy will not bring any relief, and will cause suffering to both the patient and the jellyfish.
Glowing Sea
Among the plankton that lives in the waters of the Black Sea, there is one unusual species - noctiluca, she is also a night light. This is a predatory algae whose diet consists of ready-made organic substances. But the main feature of Noctiluca is the ability to phosphorescent. Thanks to this algae, in August it may seem that the Black Sea is glowing.
Sea of dead depths
After getting acquainted with the inhabitants of the beloved sea, let's consider a couple of interesting facts. The Black Sea is by far the largest oxygen-free body of water in the world. Life in its waters is impossible at a depth of more than 200 meters due to the high concentration of hydrogen sulfide there. Over the years, the sea has accumulated more than a billion tons of hydrogen sulfide, which is a waste product of bacteria. There is a version that during the appearance of the Black Sea (7200 years ago), the freshwater inhabitants of the Black Sea Lake, which was here earlier, died in it. Because of them, reserves of methane and hydrogen sulfide have accumulated at the bottom. But these are only guesses, which have not yet been confirmed. And the fact is that due to the high content of hydrogen sulfide in the sea, the fauna is so poor.
The Black Sea, in addition, has a high content of fresh water, which also negatively affects some of its inhabitants. The fact is that water from riversdoes not have time to fully evaporate. And s alt water enters the sea mainly from the Bosporus, which is not enough to maintain the s alt balance.
There are many hypotheses regarding the origin of the name of the Black Sea. But one of them looks the most believable. Taking out the anchors from the waters of the Black Sea, the sailors were surprised at their color - the anchors turned black. This was due to the reaction of the metal and hydrogen sulfide. Perhaps that is why the sea got the name that we know now. By the way, one of the first names sounded like “the sea of dead depths”. Now we know what caused it.
Underwater river
Surprisingly, a real river flows along the bottom of the Black Sea. It originates in the Bosphorus and goes almost a hundred kilometers into the water column. According to unverified (so far) data of scientists, during the formation of the Black Sea, when the isthmus between the Crimean plain and the Mediterranean Sea was destroyed, the water that filled the territory of the current Black Sea formed a network of gutters in the earth. An underwater river with s alt water flows through one of them today, which does not change its direction.
Why doesn't the water of the underwater river mix with sea water? It's all about the difference in densities and temperatures. The underwater river is several degrees colder than the sea. And denser due to the high s alt content, because it is fed by the s altier Mediterranean Sea. The river flows along the bottom, bringing its waters to the bottom plains. These plains, like deserts on land, have little to no life. underwater riverbrings oxygen and food to them, which is very useful, given the abundance of hydrogen sulfide in the depths of the Black Sea. It is possible that there is life in these plains. Life under the "sea of hydrogen sulfide" located under the Black Sea. Such an intriguing play on words.
By the way, there is a guess that the ancient Greeks knew about the existence of an underwater river. Sailing out to sea, they threw a load from the ship, fixed on a rope. The river pulled the cargo, and with it the ship, making it easier for the sailors.
Conclusion
So, today we found out who the inhabitants of the Black Sea are. The list and names helped us get to know them better. We also learned how the Black Sea differs from others, and what mysteries of nature are hidden behind its powerful waters. Now, having gone on vacation to your favorite sea, there will be something to surprise your friends and tell inquisitive children.
