New Approach on Organizing the Monitoring of Macrophytobenthos in the Russian Arctic

The minimum number of samples was estimated based on the studies of the distribution of macrophytobenthos. The existing norms of three replicates per sampling station do not always allow to obtain reliable average values. The collection of a large number of samples, especially seasonally, will lead to significant changes in the studied community. It is recommended to put into practice the use of the method of photographing the areas of particular size along transects for further analysis using special software. It is proposed also to amend the existing regulatory documents on sampling of macrophytobenthos in the Barents Sea and other seas of the Russian Arctic. In particular, it is worth making the most of landscape surveys and mapping. The development of a monitoring system for species diversity and macrophytobenthos distribution in the seas of the Russian Arctic is justified in regard to the monitoring of the community state, including that considering the climate change.