The ecosystem of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk under conditions of heavy anthropogenic pollution

Ecosystem structure and functioning have been studied in the polluted water area of the Novorossiysk port. It has been shown that communities of phytoplankton, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, and zoobenthos are inhibited because of chronic exposure to anthropogenic stress. The food web is disturbed, and microheterotrophs (bacteria and protists) are the main functional component of the ecosystem. Water eutrophication and sulfide pollution of bottom sediments are the main factors responsible for ecosystem degradation in the port of Novorossiysk.