**1. Introduction**

186 The Dynamical Processes of Biodiversity – Case Studies of Evolution and Spatial Distribution

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Wolda, H. 1981. Similarity indices, sample size and diversity. Oecologia 50: 296-302.

landscape evolution. Geomorphology 76: 347-362.

Marine algal flora of the western coasts of Bering Sea is studied non-uniformly, i.e. to a variable degree in different areas. Perhaps, algae of the Commander Islands are studied more thoroughly as compared to the other areas of the Russian Pacific. The data on marine algae of the Islands were presented in many published works by the Russian authors. The comprehensive survey of the literature on the Islands' marine flora was given in our papers (Selivanova & Zhigadlova, 1997 a, b, c). Thereafter we continued our floristic and taxonomic studies on the Commander Islands and published many new papers: Selivanova, 2001 a, b; 2008 a, b, c; 2009; Selivanova & Zhigadlova, 2000; 2003; 2010; Zhigadlova, 2009.

In contrast to Commander Islands algae of the continental part of the Bering Sea are studied rather poorly. Though floristic investigations began there above 200 years ago information on algal flora and structure of benthic communities of this area is still scanty. Remoteness and inaccessibility, severe climate and ice conditions, and a short navigation season make this area very inconvenient for natural studies, so they were episodic and uncoordinated. Practically no seasonal field observations have been conducted there, no marine biological stations have ever existed, and scientific expeditions have been infrequent and sporadic. Therefore information on benthic algae of the area is limited. Special publications on this subject are rare (e.g.Vinogradova, 1973a; 1978; Perestenko, 1988; Zhigadlova & Selivanova, 2004), although data on the marine algae of this area may be found in some general taxonomic, floristic and hydrobiological studies (e.g. Kongisser, 1933; Petrov, 1972, 1973; Vinogradova, 1973b, 1974, 1979; Vinogradova et al., 1978; Vinogradova & Perestenko, 1978; Kussakin & Ivanova, 1978; Perestenko, 1994).

The most detailed and contemporary information on marine algae of the Russian part of Bering Sea is given in our recent publication (Selivanova & Zhigadlova, 2010). This work however was published in Russian in a book with a small number of copies so it is scarcely available to phycologists outside Russia. Partially data on algae of western part of Bering Sea (from Ozernoi Gulf to Dezhnev Cape) was presented earlier in my work (Selivanova, 2002), its electronic version is still available at the address: http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/constancea/83

Data from this publication are cited in the species list of Bering Sea algae presented in a current paper. However some part of this information has already become out-of date due to considerable and fast changes in the algal systematics caused by the application of

Marine Macrophytic Algae of the Western Sector of North Pacific (Russia) 189

Fig. 1. A schematic map of the part of Bering Sea including Commander Islands. Arrows show the direction of the Eastern Kamchatka and Alaskan currents. Numbers correspond to the specially protected nature areas (SPNA-s) within the studied area: **1** – Commander state biosphere reserve; **2** - Reserve "Karaginskii Island"; **3** - State nature reserve of federal significance "Koryakskii"; **4** - Nature park "Beringia". Abbreviations correspond to the names of major water areas of Bering Sea where algae were collected: **NR- Navarinskii** 

**3. Species composition and distribution of marine macroalgae of the upper part of the western North Pacific (continental coast of Bering Sea and** 

Up to the present day the general list of marine benthic algae of the western coasts of Bering Sea including Commander Islands based on our own materials contains 193 species, but taking into consideration data from the literature their number totals to 209 ones: 36 species of Chlorophyta, 129 Rhodophyta and 44 Ochrophyta (class Phaeophyceae). The list is considerably enlarged as compared to the previous publications (Selivanova and Zhigadlova, 1997a, b, c; Selivanova, 2002) due to new finds of algal samples and description

The author's own data on the species composition of poorly studied areas of Bering Sea are supplemented with the generalized information from separate literature sources only if this information seems to be reliable. In quoting the data of the other authors I do not always share their opinion on taxonomic status of the species and their nomenclature because quite often the data cited are based on rather old literature or archieve materials, so they are outdated, not taking into account changes in the nomenclature and systematics of algae which have occurred recently. Nevertheless, they are included in the table with corrections, where it is possible, in conformity with modern taxonomic data. The original information of the other authors in the case I do not accept their interpretation of the taxa or doubt in

**Region, O – Olyutorskii Gulf, K- Karaginskii Gulf, OZ – Ozernoi Gulf.** 

correctness of the species identification is not included in the present list.

**Commander Islands)** 

of new taxa.

molecular-genetic studies in phycology in the latest decade. So our main purpose was to make the inventory of the flora of the western Bering Sea on the basis of our personal collections in conformity with new world data in algal taxonomy and nomenclature.

We studied benthic algae of the western part of Beirng Sea that belongs to the administrative region – Kamchatskii Krai, including Koryak Autonomous District (from Ozernoi Gulf to Dezhnev Bay) (Fig. 1). Water areas northwards of it located on the territory of Chukchi Autonomous District (Anadyrskii Gulf, north of Dezhnev Bay to Bering Strait) were unstudied by us. However data on the algae of this area may be found in the papers of Vinogradova (1973a, b), Tolstikova (1974), Kussakin & Ivanova (1978); Perestenko (1988; 1994) but the inventory of marine algae of this region is uncomplete, and additional floristic and taxonomic studies are necessary.

It should be noted that in spite of better knowledge on algae of the Commander Islands as compared to other areas of western coasts of Bering Sea inventory of their flora is still not finished either because of the difficulties of collection of algae, especially subtidal ones, in this remote hard-to-reach and little-inhabited area. Besides that the general taxonomic base is insufficient and there are still unsolved nomenclatural problems.

That is why the species list of marine benthic algae of the Russian sector of Bering Sea presented in the current work in tables (Table 1-3) should be still treated as preliminary. It is not only due to the permanently renovated information on algal systematics but also due to more careful examination and re-identification of our material and finding of new species especially having sub-microscopic size.

Moreover collections of algae on the studied area were carried out in a short period of time (mostly in August-September) that also makes our list insufficient and obviously its completion needs additional field expeditions in other seasons. Necessity to continue studies on marine algae of the western coasts of Bering Sea is also caused by the threat of extermination of algal species as a result of uncontrolled harvest of marine bioresources. The fact is that rich and diverse vegetation on the shelf of this area attracts increasing attention of the commercial sea fishery organizations in the recent decade of years.
