21.1 Introduction
The macrobenthic flora (algae and phanerogames), that represents the submerse
vegetation from the Romanian Black Sea waters, represents a very important
ecosystem component, being source of oxygen, external metabolites, food, shelter
and breeding area for animals (invertebrates and fish), and not least, have a role
protecting the fauna against the disturbing water/wave action and excessive light.
Considering this, the continuous quantitative and qualitative lowering of algal
diversity and biomass is catastrophic for benthic life and for the entire ecosystem of
this north-western part of the Black Sea.
Taking into consideration that the macroalgal substrate is particularly important
and needs protection because of it’s important role in the marine ecosystem, a new
approach is necessary in order to establish the modifications of macroalgae in the
newly created ecological conditions and appropriate ways of conservation.
21.2 Historical Considerations
Macroalgal flora was studied at the Romanian Black sea coast beginning with over
a century ago, for the first time by Russian and Romanian scientists, and later on by
Bulgarian, Turkish and Georgian ones.
We can mention Kanitz “Plantas Romaniae” (1881) where J. Schaarschmidt
listed 233 species of algae, out of which 50 marine species, and only six
macrophytes.
Also marking the beginning of marine benthal algology at our coast, is a
monograph of the algological flora from Romania (both fresh and marine waters),
published in 1907 by E. Teodorescu, in which 32 species of macrophyta were
mentioned in samples taken from rocky bottoms along the Romanian coast.
One of the most important steps, in the development of marine biology in
general and algology in particular in Romania, is the foundation of two important
research institutes, one is the Marine Zoological Station at Agigea in 1926 by Ion
Borcea, and the other one is the Bio-oceanographic Institute in Constant ¸a in 1932
by Grigore Antipa.
The algological research owes a lot to the outstanding algologist Maria Celan,
who started her activity in 1930, when Professor Ion Borcea, remarking her
attraction for the research work, entrusted her with the study of macrophytic
algae, a field of science not yet researched in Romania to which she will dedicate
her entire life. Celan contributed with taxonomical, cytological and ecological
research upon macrophytic vegetation from the Black Sea coast.
The results of Celan’s first observations in the field of macrophytic algae at our
littoral materialized in articles published under the title “Notes sur la flore
algologique du littoral rumain de la Mer Noire,” between 1935 and 1938, in several
370
D. Sava
The macrobenthic flora (algae and phanerogames), that represents the submerse
vegetation from the Romanian Black Sea waters, represents a very important
ecosystem component, being source of oxygen, external metabolites, food, shelter
and breeding area for animals (invertebrates and fish), and not least, have a role
protecting the fauna against the disturbing water/wave action and excessive light.
Considering this, the continuous quantitative and qualitative lowering of algal
diversity and biomass is catastrophic for benthic life and for the entire ecosystem of
this north-western part of the Black Sea.
Taking into consideration that the macroalgal substrate is particularly important
and needs protection because of it’s important role in the marine ecosystem, a new
approach is necessary in order to establish the modifications of macroalgae in the
newly created ecological conditions and appropriate ways of conservation.
21.2 Historical Considerations
Macroalgal flora was studied at the Romanian Black sea coast beginning with over
a century ago, for the first time by Russian and Romanian scientists, and later on by
Bulgarian, Turkish and Georgian ones.
We can mention Kanitz “Plantas Romaniae” (1881) where J. Schaarschmidt
listed 233 species of algae, out of which 50 marine species, and only six
macrophytes.
Also marking the beginning of marine benthal algology at our coast, is a
monograph of the algological flora from Romania (both fresh and marine waters),
published in 1907 by E. Teodorescu, in which 32 species of macrophyta were
mentioned in samples taken from rocky bottoms along the Romanian coast.
One of the most important steps, in the development of marine biology in
general and algology in particular in Romania, is the foundation of two important
research institutes, one is the Marine Zoological Station at Agigea in 1926 by Ion
Borcea, and the other one is the Bio-oceanographic Institute in Constant ¸a in 1932
by Grigore Antipa.
The algological research owes a lot to the outstanding algologist Maria Celan,
who started her activity in 1930, when Professor Ion Borcea, remarking her
attraction for the research work, entrusted her with the study of macrophytic
algae, a field of science not yet researched in Romania to which she will dedicate
her entire life. Celan contributed with taxonomical, cytological and ecological
research upon macrophytic vegetation from the Black Sea coast.
The results of Celan’s first observations in the field of macrophytic algae at our
littoral materialized in articles published under the title “Notes sur la flore
algologique du littoral rumain de la Mer Noire,” between 1935 and 1938, in several
370
D. Sava