black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Biology. A typical contourobiont inhabiting almost exclusively the sandy bottom
mediolittoral (pseudolitoral). Its preferred habitat is coarse sand, free of mud. It
burrows headfirst into the sand and forms a channel for respiratory currents.
Population trends. A sharp decline in numbers since the 1980s. A reduction of 70-
80% over the last 10 years.
Threats. Pollution of the mediolittoral stripe, changes in the granulometric
composition of the sand, silting and trampling in recreational areas.
Conservation measures taken. None so far.
Conservation measures proposed. Include species in Black Sea Red Data Book.
References
Bacescu M., G. I. Muller & M.-T. Gomoiu, 1971. Ecol. mar. 4: 1-259.
Bacescu M., M.-T. Gomoiu & E. Dumitrescu,1968. Quelques considerations sur la
dynamique des organismes de la zone mediolittorale sableuse en Mer Noire. Rapp.
Comm. int. MerMedit. 10: 117-119.
Gomoiu M-T., 1969. Some aspects of the Black Sea benthos. Hidrobiología 10: 256-
277.
Marinov, T., 1977. Mnogochetinesty chervy (Polychaeta). Fauna na Bulgaria (Fauna
of Bulgaria) 6: 258 pp. (in Bulgarian).
Mokievsky, O., 1949. Fauna rykhlikh gruntov litoraly zapadnykh beregov Kryma
(Fauna of soft bottoms in the western Crimean littoral). Tr. Inst. Okeanolog. 4:124-
159 (in Russian).
Vinogradov, K. A. & G. V. Losovskaya, 1968. Klass mnogoshetinkovye chervi -
Polychaeta (Polychaeta worms in the Black Sea). In: Opredelitel fauny Chemogo i
Azovskogo morey (A key to Black Sea and Sea of Azov fauna). Kiev, Naukova
Dumka 1: 251-359 (in Russian).
Compiled by C. Dumitrache & Y. P. Zaitsev.
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