The Black Sea Ecosystem

Dear Colleagues,

This year marks  the launch of the United Nations of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). The Ocean Decade is an important initiative that will inform the Governments of European Countries on Blue Economy Strategy and the Green Deal and will shine a spotlight on the importance of marine science. Knowledge is the key element towards science-based and well-informed decision-making. Through our shared knowledge of the oceans and seas, we can build a sustainable blue economy that can provide innovative solutions to global challenges and economic opportunities in order to protect and preserve the marine environment. Thus, it follows, that the logic inherent in the analytical documents at the European level, according to which the comprehensive and reliable information on the state of biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services, as well as the capacity to monitor changes, is crucial.

The Black Sea is a unique sea basin that is rich in biodiversity and natural resources, but the basin is increasingly under pressure from human-induced factors, such as eutrophication, overfishing, pollution, and species introduction, in addition to the effects of climate change. These stressors have synergistic effects on marine ecosystems, altering their functioning and ability to provide goods and services. Their impact is stronger in enclosed and semi-enclosed basins such as the Black Sea, with its high population density, tourism flow and maritime activities.

The Black Sea receives fresh water inflows all around the basin but the important ones (Danube, Dniepr and Dniestr) discharge into the north-western coastal waters. The Danube River, being one of the largest rivers in Europe, introduces dramatic effects on the Black Sea ecosystem. The Black Sea is a strongly stratified system, its stratification within the upper 100 m layer (10% of the entire water column) varies significantly. The Cold Intermediate Layer (CIL) is another distinctive feature of the thermo-haline dynamics Black Sea representing the interface between surface and deep waters. The presence of cold intermediate waters is extremely important for the Black Sea ecosystem because these waters are rich in oxygen and mark the upper boundary of the anoxic zone.

This research topic intends to increase the available knowledge on—and our understanding of—the different challenges threatening of the Black Sea ecosystem state. Understanding the interrelation between natural and human made processes, their variations due to climate change, and the impact on the loss of coastal ecosystem services is essential in order to define the ecosystem state and improve ecosystem management in coastal Black Sea areas.

Dr. Kremena Stefanova
Guest Editor

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• biodiversity
• non-indigenous species
• ecosystem state
• habitat loss
• eutrophication
• climate change