The benthic fauna associations from the meanders area of Danube – Sfantu Gheorghe branch, in the period 2016-2017

Abstract

The study presents the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis of benthic fauna associations of Sfantu Gheorghe branch meanders of Danube Delta, Romania, performed in June 2016 and September 2017, respectively. Following the anthropogenic hydromorphological changes suffered by the Sfantu Gheorghe branch in ‘90s caused by cutting its length with about 35%, along with the increasing of industrialization and agricultural activities favoured by the opening of the channel to the navigation, the benthic fauna underwent a series of changes in terms of diversity and abundance. Based on 56 samples collected in 2016 and 2017, 51 taxa, belonging to 20 major groups in both years and average abundances of 265,440 ind.m-2, in September 2016 and 12,402.4 ind.m-2 in June 2017 were found. Our findings suggest that a slightly improving of the quality of the environment within the study area has occurred after 2000’s years due to progressive reducing of impact generated by the above-mentioned activities.