Transformation of Benthic Communities in Pechora Bay and the Probable Loss of the Portlandia aestuariorum Population in the Typical Habitat

A benthic survey is carried out at the typical location of the bivalve species Portlandia aestuariorum in the Pechora Bay of the Barents Sea. The benthic survey using trawling and grab sampling is carried out at seven sampling stations along a transect in the bay. Not a single specimen of P. aestuariorum is found in the samples. The whole surveyed bay area is occupied by the oligomictic community dominated by the bivalve mollusk Limecola balthica .