This work examines the waters of marine ports as unique integrated aquatic ecosystems. It regards marine ports as entities comprising components of natural and anthropogenic origin, including pelagic, periphytal and benthal subsystems. Using selected Black and Azov Sea ports as examples, the book discusses the hydrodynamics and water exchange, which are weakened in ports compared with open coastal zones. It reflects consequences of the presence of hydrobionts and the accumulation of organic matter, which are promoted by the variety of hard substrata and the absence of fishery.
The book is divided into five main chapters. The first chapter describes the general characteristics of the marine ports at the northern coast of the Black and Azov Seas and their shipping channels. Chapters 2 to 4 discuss the main abiotic and biotic peculiarities of the pelagial, periphytal and benthal subsystems of those marine ports, and chapter 5 deals with tropho-dynamic processes in their ecosystems. A concluding section reflects recommendations how the ecosystems of ports in non-tidal seas may be ameliorated.

Alexander Vinogradov, marine ichthyologist and Doctor of biological sciences, is leading researcher at the Department of ecology of marginal communities of the Institute of marine biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Odessa). His main areas of research are ecological and morphological adaptations of fish at the early stages of ontogenesis, salinity resistance of marine hydrobionts, mechanisms of marine ecosystems functioning and sea ports ecology.
Yuliya Bogatova, hydrochemist, PhD in geography, is leading researcher at the Department of quality of the aquatic environment of the Institute of marine biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Odessa). She studies the hydrochemical characteristics of the north-western part of the Black Sea and adjacent limans, rivers deltas and marine ports aquatories. The primary focus of much of her research includes the role of nutrients in water quality and the biological diversity of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Ivan Synegub, marine hydrobiologist, is senior research scientist at the Department of ecology of marginal communities of the Institute of marine biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Odessa). His research interests cover the ecology and structure of macrozoobenthos in various biotopes of the Black and Azov seas, the anthropogenic influences on the structure and dynamics of macrozoobenthos communities, the role of macrozoobenthos in marine fish feeding and the impact of alien species on autochthonous macrozoobenthos.

Introduction.- Main characteristics of  marine ports of the northern coast of the Black and Azov seas and their access channels.- Pelagic zone subsystem of the marine ports aquatories.- Periphytal zone subsystem of the marine ports aquatories.- Benthal zone subsystem of the marine ports aquatories.- Main structure and main peculiarities of functioning of the marine ports aquatories ecosystems.- Conclusions.