Phytomicrobenthos is an integral part of aquatic ecosystems biota. It occupies one of key places in the autotrophic link functioning. Water bodies and streams within the Danube River Kiliya Delta are marked by various specific habitats giving rise to high biological diversity of plant communities, including benthic algae, which are important indicators of environmental conditions. The aim of this research was to reveal the specifics of ecological and geographic diversity of phytomicrobenthos in the Danube River Kiliya Delta water bodies and streams. Phytomicrobenthos studies were carried out in 2010–2013, during spring, summer and autumn in different water ecosystems within the Danube River Kilia Delta: streams (the delta branches downstream of Vylkove City: the Vostochnyi Branch, the Bystryi Branch, the Ochakovskiy Branch, the Belgorodskiy Branch, the Otnozhnyi Old Branch, and in freshwater (oligohaline) bays – Potapov Kut Bay, Bystryi Kut Bay, the isolated Anankin Kut Lake and brackish bays, which are open from the seaside – Solenyi Kut Bay, Badyka Kut Bay and Shabosh Kut Bay. According to their ecological and geographic characteristics, the majority of benthic algae species from the Danube River Kiliya Delta water ecosystems are cosmopolite species; according to habitat association – benthic and planktonic-benthic; in relation to water mineralization – indifferent, halophilous and mesohalobic species; in relation to pH – alkaliphilous and indifferent species. Species associated with slow-flowing waters and species indifferent to temperature conditions are very widespread as well. Most of the species were β-mesosaprobic according to organic pollution tolerance. The obtained data can be used for monitoring of the Danube River Kiliya Delta aquatic ecosystems, predicting possible changes and water quality assessment
phytomicrobenthos, the Kiliya Delta of the Danube River, aquatic ecosystems, environmental conditions, indicator species
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