DOI: 10.5061/dryad.fqz612k0n
title: Data from: Structure and dynamics of phytoplankton populations in the Black Sea from 2014 to 2017

description: This study investigated the seasonal variations in phytoplankton
 communities along the Turkish Black Sea coast (2014-2017). Analyzing data
 from 20 stations revealed high biodiversity (175 species across 14
 classes). Phytoplankton abundance showed distinct seasonality, with a peak
 in summer (2017, 96.6%) and lows in winter, characterized by
 dinoflagellate dominance. In terms of biomass, diatoms dominated in half
 of the sampling seasons, while dinoflagellates dominated in the other half
 at the surface during 2014-2017. The dominance of dinoflagellates
 corresponded to the winters and summers of 2015 and 2016. The winter
 conditions of 2015 were harsh. The surface water community composition
 sometimes varied from that of the water column. Importantly, 44
 potentially toxic species were identified, comprising 25% of the community
 and significantly contributing to both abundance (73.2-98.6%) and biomass
 (64-90.2%) throughout the year. These results highlight the unique
 structure of the Black Sea phytoplankton community, characterized by
 seasonal dominance of diatom and a significant presence of potentially
 toxic species. Season, year, and water depth significantly influenced the
 phytoplankton assemblages. Water temperature was negatively correlated
 with dissolved oxygen and nitrogen-based nutrients.
description: The research carried out under the "National Integrated
 Marine Pollution Monitoring Program" was performed at 20 stations
 selected from 16 coastal water bodies (CWB) identified along the entire
 Black Sea coast of Türkiye from the westernmost İğneada (Bulgarian border)
 to the easternmost Hopa (Georgian border) between 2014 and 2017. Six
 cruises (2014: Summer, 2015: Winter and Summer, 2016: Winter and Summer
 and 2017: Summer) were implemented in the study area with R/V TÜBİTAK
 MARMARA.
description: # Data from: Structure and dynamics of phytoplankton populations in the
 Black Sea from 2014 to 2017
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fqz612k0n](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fqz612k0n) The research under the Turkish Integrated Marine Pollution Monitoring Program initiated in 2014 as part of the national program by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and coordinated by TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center was conducted at 20 stations selected from 16 coastal water bodies along the entire Black Sea coast of Turkey, from the westernmost İğneada to the easternmost Hopa (Georgian border), between 2014 and 2017 (Fig. 1). Six cruises (August/Summer 2014; January/Winter and August/Summer 2015; January/Winter and August/Summer 2016; and August/Summer 2017) were implemented in the study area with R/V TÜBİTAK Marmara. The details of the stations in the study area are provided in Supplementary Material Table S1 of the associated manuscript. ## Description of the data and file structure The data file consists of three sheets.  **Sheet (Abd-Bio_Prmt)**: This sheet primarily reveals the dates, stations, and depths from which the data was collected. This page contains abundance values (cell/liter) for all stations and their corresponding sampling depths (surface, thermocline, Chl-max, etc.). The abbreviations on this sheet are: * DIA-Abd: Diatom Abundance (cell/L) * DINO-Abd: Dinoflagellate Abundance * EH-Abd: Emiliania huxleyi Abundance * O-Abd: Other Phytoplankton Groups Abundance * Total Abd: All groups total abundance * Dia/Dino (Abd): The abundance ratio of diatoms to dinoflagellates **Sheet (Stations-Total Depths)**: Provides the total abundance values for the water column at the sampled stations. **Sheet (Stations-Surface)**: Provides the abundance values for surface water at the sampled stations. ## Sharing/Access information For more detailed information about the dataset and its supplementary data, please visit the link "[https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.37603](https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.37603)"