Kopytina N. Higher marine fungi of pelagic and benthic biotopes of the northwestern area of the Black Sea.

77 species of fungi have been identified, 12 of which are firstly recorded in the Black Sea (1159 samples).Similarity of fungal species composition of different biotopes and water areas of the northwestern region of the Black Sea (NWRBS) has been established. Maximum number of species (30 - 56), species diversity (Shannon index (H) = 3.59 - 4.58) and dominance of obligate marine species, are observed in the water areas with good water exchange with the sea, middle depth of 10 m and more and salinity of 10 - 21 ‰ (Gulf of Odessa, coastal waters of the Zmeinyi Island, Tyligulsky, Grigorievsky and Sukhoi limans). Minimum number of species (14 - 16), diversity (H= 1.33 - 2.20) and dominance of eurytopic fungi (62.4 - 71.1 %), are noted in shallow-water limans (depth less than 1 m) - Kuyalnitsky, Bolshoi Adzhalyksky. Concerning changes of fungal complexes, under the influence of man-made impact, the water areas of the region were divided in three groups: 1) ecosystems, assimilating the modern level of anthropogenic impact (Gulf of Odessa, coastal waters of the Zmeinyi Island, Tyligulsky, Grigorievsky and Sukhoi limans); 2) ecosystems, suffering from the surplus anthropogenic impact (the near Danube area and Khadzhibeyskiy liman); 3) ecosystems, being in the state of ecological risk (Kuyalnitsky and Bolshoi Adzhalyksky limans). In the Khadzhibeyskiy, Kuyalnitsky and Bolshoi Adzhalyksky limans the number of potentially pathogenic fungal species was 40.7 - 80.0 % of the total and cumulative frequency of these fungi exceeded 50.0 - 64.7 %. It is proposed to carry out mycological monitoring of waters.