MULLETS AND THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS
OF BURGAS BAY ON THEIR POPULATIONS
RADOSLAVA BEKOVA1*, BOGDAN PRODANOV2, TODOR LAMBEV2
1 – Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Institute of Oceanology–BAS, Varna, Bulgaria
2 - Department of Coastal Zone Dynamics, Institute of Oceanology–BAS, Varna, Bulgaria
*Corresponding author: radoslavabekova@gmail.com
Keywords: environmental assessment, mullets, population parameters, Burgas Bay
Abstract: An ecosystem approach has been chosen for an assessment of the status of the populations of three mullet species in Burgas Bay. The complex data requirements for all three species and physicochemical parameters plus sediment are the basis for a comparative assessment of the population status of mullets in Burgas Bay. An assessment of the local anthropogenic impact was also made using hydrochemical analyses. The present study aims to extend and deepen the knowledge of the population- biological characteristics of three species of mullets (Mugil cephalus, Chelon auratus and Chelon saliens) from Burgas Bay by using an ecosystem scale research to determine the degree of contamination with biogenic substances and their impact on the mullet populations.