Distribution of macroalgae and seaweed in the Azov Sea,Kerch Strait,and Taman Bay

The analysis of the macroalgae distribution along the salinity gradient in the Azov Sea, the Kerch strait, and Taman Bay during the summer allowed finding two macroalgae complexes. The first complex (brackish) is formed by algae belonging to the Enteromorpha, Cladophora, Rhizoclonium, and Chaetomorpha genera in the Taganrog Gulf. The second complex (marine) with dominating algae belonging to the Enteromorpha, Chaetomorpha, Ceramium, and Polysiphonia inhabits the littoral part of the Azov Sea itself, the Kerch Strait, and Taman Bay. The saprobe analysis of the flora showed that the majority of macroalgae species inhabiting the Azov Sea are represented by meso- and polysaprobes and a small number of oligosaprobe species inhabit the Kerch Strait. The biggest species diversity of macroalgae was noted in the southwestern part of the sea; the value of Shannon’s index was 0.65 in the Taganrog Gulf, 1.04 in the Azov Sea, 1.38 in Taman Bay. The leading role in the littoral communities of Taganrog Gulf belongs to aquatic flowering plants with Potamogeton perfoliatus being dominant; as the salinity increases, the share of such species as P. pectinatus, Zostera marina, Z. noltii, Ruppia maritime, and Zannichellia major starts to increase.     

The trophic position of the alien crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhithropanopeus harrisii</Emphasis> (crustacea decapoda panopeidae) in the Taman Bay,Sea of Azov community

This work concerns the trophic web positioning of the alien crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii and other common marine invertebrate species and fishes in the benthic ecosystem of the shallows of Taman Bay, Sea of Azov. The base of the trophic web in this system is composed of phytoplankton, macrophytes (algae and marine grasses), and reeds that use atmospheric carbon for photosynthesis. Analysis of the isotopic composition of nitrogen and carbon has shown that although marine grasses are dominating primary producers in the shallows of the bay, primary consumers (such as Cerastoderma glaucum, Porifera gen. sp., Gammarus aequicauda, Deshayesorchestia deshayesii and Idotea balthica) only partially use this organic source; instead, they use a combination of different sources of primary production. It has been shown that the food source of the alien crab is primarily of animal origin. In Taman Bay, R. harrisii is on the same trophic level as other carnivores/scavengers: benthic fishes Syngnathus nigrolineatus, Gobius spp. and native crab Pilumnus hirtellus and shrimp Palaemon adspersus.     

Seasonal variations in the community structures of macrobenthic fauna and their health status in an estuarine bay,Gwangyang Bay in Korea

Macrobenthic fauna in an estuarine Gwangyang Bay, southern Korean coast, were investigated to uncover recent variations in their community structures. In the study area, macrobenthic faunal communities were mainly composed of polychaete worms which were the most abundant faunal group with the highest values in species number and density, while mollusks accounted for the highest proportion in total biomass. There was no clear seasonal difference in species richness during the two year period of the investigation, but the mean density and biomass increased every spring and summer due to the mass recruitment of Theora fragilis. The Shannon’s diversity index (H') was more than 2.0 during most sampling seasons and did not show any significant seasonal difference except for the data in August, 2011 when azoic conditions occurred. The community structures of macrobenthos in Gwangyang Bay did not show any remarkable change in the dominance of the two top dominant species, Scoletoma longifolia and Heteromastus filiformis, which abundantly occurred in all seasons, except for the abundance peaks associated with high occurrence of T. fragilis and Paraprionospio cordifolia, especially in spring and summer and in autumn, respectively. These fauna changes reflected the changes in the macrobenthic community health status in Gwangyang Bay, where stable conditions and a healthy status prevailed in winter, but a slightly disturbed status prevailed from spring to autumn.     

Spatial distribution and feeding of dominant zooplankton species in the Ob River estuary

The distribution and feeding of dominant mesozooplankton species were studied in the estuary of the Ob River and adjacent inner Kara Sea shelf waters in September 2013. It was shown that the spatial distributions of Cyclops sp., Senecella siberica, Limnocalanus macrurus, Mysis oculata, Drepanopus bungei, Jashnovia tolli and Pseudocalanus sp. are related to the specific characteristics of the hydrographic regime in the estuarine frontal zone. The distributions of Cyclops sp., Senecella siberica, and Pseudocalanus sp. are mainly limited by salinity, while other species inhabit an area with a wide range of salinity values without clear preferences. Peaks of their abundance could be either consolidated or distanced in space. The populations of Jashnovia tolli, Drepanopus bungei, and Pseudocalanus sp. permanently inhabit the layer under the pycnohalocline; the populations of Cyclops sp. and Mysis oculata inhabit the upper mixed layer. Limnocalanus macrurus demonstrates a different vertical distribution pattern: the copepod undertakes diel vertical migrations in the southern part of the estuarine frontal zone; in its northern part, the population is concentrated below the pycnocline during day and night. The differences in the distributions of the studied species determine their feeding behavior and their role in phytoplankton grazing. The most intense utilization of biomass and production of autotrophic phytoplankton by zooplankton occur in the freshened water zone and the adjacent southern periphery of the estuarine frontal zone: the total daily phytoplankton consumption makes up 10–18% of the biomass and 60–380% of primary production. Daily zooplankton consumption of phytoplankton in the estuarine frontal zone decreases to 2–7% of the biomass and to 14% of primary production; in inner shelf waters, the values do not exceed 1% for both phytoplankton biomass and production.     

Features of the spatial distribution of phytoplankton in Nhatrang Bay of the South China Sea during the rainy season

The species composition, phytoplankton abundance, and relative yield of the variable fluorescence (F _v /F _m ) were determined in the mesotrophic Nhatrang Bay in October–November of 2004. The species diversity (250 taxonomic units) and heterogeneity of the phytoplankton structure were high. With respect to the number of species and their abundance, diatoms prevailed. In selected parts of the bay, dinoflagellates dominated. The mean biomass in the water column under 1 m² (B _t ) varied from 2.3 to 64.4 mg C/m³ being 31.0 mg C/m³ on average. The values of B _t were the lowest at the stations nearest to the river mouth. Seaward, B _t increased. The values of B _t increased with depth at some stations and decreased at others. In the surface sea layers, the biomass was lower than that in the underlying waters. The values of F _v /F _m ranged from 0.10 to 0.64 (at a mean value of 0.49). The lowest values of F _v /F _m were observed in the area close to the seaport. Over the greater part of the bay, the values of F _v /F _m were higher than 0.47. Such values are indicative of the relatively high potential photosynthetic activity of the phytoplankton. The abundance and species diversity were higher than those in the dry season (March–April).     

Phytoplankton characteristics and hydrological conditions in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk in the spring of 1999 and 2000 based on expeditionary and satellite data

Using the data obtained in 1999–2000 during the spring bloom of phytoplankton (late May–early June), the variability of the pigment concentrations, the phytoplankton biomass and species compositions, and the hydrological conditions on the eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island was studied. The study resulted in revealing 135 microalgae species belonging to eight divisions. The most diversely presented were the Dinophyta dinoflagellates and Bacillariophyta diatoms (70 and 53 species, respectively). The concentration of chlorophyll a in the euphotic zone amounted, on average, to 3.8 mg/m³ in 1999 and 2.4 mg/m³ in 2000. It was shown that, in the northern and southern parts of the coastal zone, the concentration of chlorophyll a and the phytoplankton density in the spring were considerably different and depended on the hydrological conditions. In the north, their maximum values were found in the area of the depth break and were determined by the tidal mixing. The increased algae concentrations and temperature inversions at depths of 400–600 m confirm the downslope sliding of the near-bottom shelf waters. In the southern part, the high phytoplankton concentrations in the surface layer in 1999 confirmed by the monthly averaged estimates from the SeaWiFS satellite color scanner were caused by the abnormal northward propagation of the Soya Current waters and by intense tidal mixing.     

Winter thermal inversion and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichodesmium</Emphasis> dominance in north-western Bay of Bengal

Clear thermal inversion was observed with cold surface waters (< 24°C) overlying the warm (> 26°C) subsurface water in the coastal waters of the northwestern Bay of Bengal during winter (January 2015). Simultaneously, preponderance of the cyanobacteria Trichodesmium erythraeum was observed dominating the phytoplankton community with > 90% of total population, reaching maximum density of 9.8 × 10⁵ filaments/L. Further, the Trichodesmium predominance was associated with low water temperature (< 24°C).     

Species Composition and Distribution of Zooplankton from Northeastern Sakhalin Shelf (Sea of Okhotsk)

The species composition, density, biomass, and distribution of zooplankton of the northeastern Sakhalin shelf, Sea of Okhotsk (Chaivo, Pil’tunskii, and Morskoi regions) were studied in October 2014. Zooplankton was represented by 15 taxonomic groups, which were dominated by Copepoda (13 species). The average density and biomass was highest in the Chaivo region (14112 ± 4322 ind./m³, 395 ± 107 mg/m³) and in the Pil’tunskii region (16692 ± 10707 ind./m³, 346 ± 233 mg/m³); the abundance of detected taxonomic groups was minimal (8–12). The average density and biomass of zooplankton was up to 4304 ± 2441 ind./m³, 133 ± 77 mg/m³ in the Morskoi region and increased with depth; the abundance of taxa was maximum (15). Four species of copepods made up the majority of the density and biomass of zooplankton: Acartia hudsonica, Eurytemora herdmani, Pseudocalanus newmani, and Oithona similis. In the Chaivo region, species of the genera Acartia, Eurytemora, and Oithona dominated and subdominated; in Pil’tunskii region, species of the genera Acartia and Oithona dominated and subdominated; and in the Morskoi region, species of the genera Oithona, Pseudocalanus, and Acartia dominated and subdominated.     

High mortality and poor growth of green mussels, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perna viridis</Emphasis>, in high chlorophyll-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> environment

The current study was carried out from May 2014 to April 2015 to estimate the stock status of P. viridis in Marudu Bay. The gonad development was monitored by histological examination, while the population parameters including asymptotic length (L_∞), growth coefficient (K), mortality rate (Z, F and M), exploitation level (E) and recruitment of P. viridis were estimated using the lengthfrequency data. Results of the current study demonstrated that P. viridis in Marudu Bay spawned throughout the year with two major peaks, one in April to May and another one in October to December. The recruitment pattern was continuous with the peak in May to June 2014, which corresponded to the first spawning peak in April. However, no significant recruitment was observed from the second spawning peak due to the difference in spawning timing between male and female populations. The estimated asymptotic length (L_∞), growth coefficient (K), total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), fishing mortality (F) and growth performance (ф) of P. viridis in Marudu Bay were estimate to be 117 mm, 0.97 yr^-1, 4.39 yr^-1, 1.23 yr^-1, 3.16 yr^-1 and 4.123, respectively. The exponent b of the lengthweight relationship was 2.4 and exploitation level (E) was 0.72. The high mortality, low condition indices and negative allometric of P. viridis in Marudu Bay is caused by a lack of suitable food in the surrounding water.     

Morphological identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alexandrium</Emphasis> species (Dinophyceae) from Jinhae-Masan Bay,Korea

Outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and dense blooms caused by Alexandrium species in Jinhae-Masan Bay, Korea have been nearly annual events for many years. However, excluding some Alexandrium species responsible for PSP, there are no critical reports on the morphology of Alexandrium species in this bay. To identify the Alexandrium species based on detailed morphological features, vegetative cells collected water samples and established by the incubation of resting cysts isolated from sediment trap samples were analyzed. Four species of Alexandrium were identified: Alexandrium affine, A. fundyense, A. catenella, and A. insuetum. Morphological features of these species were basically consistent with those outlined in previous studies. However, the ventral pore and the connecting pore on the sulcal plate, which have been accepted as diagnostic characteristics for the identification of A. fundyense and A. catenella, need to be reevaluated, indicating that useful morphological features for identifying these two species should be recommended to avoid confusion in the classification of species in genus Alexandrium.     

Monthly Geographical Distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nemopilema nomurai</Emphasis> (Scyphozoa: Rhizosotomeae) in the Bohai and North Yellow Seas: a Preliminary Study using Ships of Opportunity

Nemopilema nomurai, an endemic and blooming jellyfish species in the waters of Korea, China and Japan, were monitored from June to October, 2017, in the Bohai and northwestern Yellow Seas, using the ship sighting method, as a preliminary study to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of medusae. Monitoring revealed that the mass appearance of young medusae was observed in Liaodong Bay in summer. In late summer they disappeared and a high density zone shifted to the mid- and northern Bohai Strait. In early fall, healthy adults with relatively high density were observed in the area around the border of the South and North Yellow Seas. These results suggest that medusae of N. nomurai originated from the Bohai Sea and were advected into the Yellow Sea through the Bohai Strait.     

Metagenomic characterization of viral communities in Goseong Bay,Korea

In this study, seawater samples were collected from Goseong Bay, Korea in March 2014 and viral populations were examined by metagenomics assembly. Enrichment of marine viral particles using FeCl₃ followed by next-generation sequencing produced numerous sequences. De novo assembly and BLAST search showed that most of the obtained contigs were unknown sequences and only 0.74% of sequences were associated with known viruses. As a result, 138 viruses, including bacteriophages (87%), viruses infecting algae and others (13%) were identified. The identified 138 viruses were divided into 11 orders, 14 families, 34 genera, and 133 species. The dominant viruses were Pelagibacter phage HTVC010P and Roseobacter phage SIO1. The viruses infecting algae, including the Ostreococcus species, accounted for 9.4% of total identified viruses. In addition, we identified pathogenic herpes viruses infecting fishes and giant viruses infecting parasitic acanthamoeba species. This is a comprehensive study to reveal the viral populations in the Goseong Bay using metagenomics. The information associated with the marine viral community in Goseong Bay, Korea will be useful for comparative analysis in other marine viral communities.     

Distribution of chaetognaths (Aphragmophora: Sagittidae) in Korean waters

The distribution of chaetognaths was investigated at 10 stations in the southern part of Korean waters (line S), at six stations in the eastern part of Korean waters (line E) and at 8 stations in the western part of Korean waters (line W). Ten species were present at the stations at line S and Flaccisagitta enflata and Zonosagitta bedoti were dominant among these species. Mean densities at line S ranged from 7 inds.m^-3 to 27 inds.m^-3. Five chaetognath species were found at the stations at line E and Zonosagitta nagae and Parasagitta elegans were the most abundant. Mean densities ranged from 1 to 10 inds.m-3. Four chaetognath species were present at line W and Aidanosagitta crassa and chaetognath juveniles were dominant in this line. Mean densities ranged from 21 to 199 inds.m^-3. The density of chaetognaths was highest at line W while the diversity of chaetognaths was highest at line S. Individuals of chaetognaths were divided into two groups, a group of line E and a mixed group of lines W and E. This study suggests that F. enflata is a warm water species; Z. nagae is a mixed water species; P. elegans is a cold water species; and A. crassa is a less saline water species. The mtCOI of F. enflata, which was a dominant species in the sampling area, was analyzed. F. enflata that are present in waters around Korean were genetically divided into two groups, which may be influenced by various oceanic factors.     

Spatial distribution of the phytoplankton in the White Sea during atypical domination of dinoflagellates (July 2009)

The species composition and biomass of phytoplankton, concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and nutrients, and accompanying hydrophysical conditions have been studied in the White Sea on July 6–11, 2009. The temperature of the surface water layer was lower than the multiyear average in July. Dinoflagellates dominated in the entire studied area; this was not the typical event for July. We suggest that domination of dinoflagellates was caused by low water temperature, when the nutrient regeneration rate was insufficient to support diatom growth. The abundance of microalgae and the structure of the phytoplankton community depended on the water structure. Variations in the phytoplankton community structure were caused not by substitution of specific species but rather by variability of the abundance of a single species, Heterocapsa triquetra. The highest phytoplankton biomass has been recorded in weakly stratified waters, where tidal mixing supplied the income of inorganic nutrients. The income of nutrients to the photic layer was limited in the stratified waters of Dvina Bay during the summer low-water period, so the phytoplankton abundance was low. We suggest that the lens of surface desalinated water presumably originated from the outlet of the Dvina River was registered in the central part of the White Sea.     

Structure of plankton phytocoenoses in the shelf waters of the northeastern Black Sea during the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Emiliania huxleyi</Emphasis> bloom in 2002–2005

It is shown that, in 2002–2005, the mass development of the coccolithofore Emiliania huxleyi on the Gelendzhik shelf occurred annually and in May–June its abundance reached 1.5 × 10⁶ cells/l. In 2004–2005, the bloom of E. huxleyi was accompanied by a mass development of the diatom alga Chaetoceros subtilis var. abnormis f. simplex (0.6–0.9 × 10⁶ cells/l); for the first time, it was registered as a dominating form of the Black Sea phytoplankton. Small flagellates and picoplankton algae played a noticeable role in the phytoplankton throughout the entire period of the studies. Meanwhile, in the early summer period, the bulk of the biomass consisted of coccolithophores (50–60%), while, in the late summer period, diatomaceous algae dominated (50–70%). Among the ecological factors that favor the coccolithophore development one may note the microstratification of the upper mixed layer at a high illumination level and high temperature in the surface waters (18–21°C). The terrigenous runoff during the rainy period had a negative effect on the E. huxleyi development, while storms dispersed the population over the upper mixed layer. The wind-induced near-shore upwelling stimulated the development of diatoms.     

Meiobenthos under mariculture conditions of the brown seaweed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharina japonica</Emphasis> in Rifovaya Bay,Peter the Great Gulf,Sea of Japan

The qualitative and quantitative compositions of free-living marine nematodes were studied in Rifovaya Bay (Peter the Great Gulf, Sea of Japan). It was found that the density distribution of nematode populations in bottom sediments of Rifovaya Bay is nonuniform. In total, 72 nematode species were found, including Oncholaimium paraolium, Viscosia epapilosa, and Monoposthia latiannulata on all types of substrates. The dominant trophic group comprised “predators” (2B) and “scrapers” (2A). It was shown that the species composition of nematodes in Rifovaya Bay is very similar to the species composition of nematodes in the other areas of Peter the Great Gulf.     

Species Composition and Distribution of Sibling Species of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chironomus</Emphasis> Meigen (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the Curonian and Vistula Lagoons,Baltic Sea

The species compositions of the genus Chironomus in the Curonian and Vistula lagoons are very similar, represented by Ch. plumosus and Ch. balatonicus. In the Curonian Lagoon, in addition to these two species, Ch. muratensis and the first-generation interspecific hybrid Ch. muratensis × Ch. plumosus are also found. In this lagoon, Ch. plumosus occurs most frequently (84%); Ch. balatonicus is considered a subdominant species (24%). In the Vistula Lagoon, on the contrary, the high frequency of occurrence is typical of Ch. balatonicus (89%); for Ch. plumosus, it reaches only 11%. The Ch. plumosus population occupies most of the Curonian Lagoon; Ch. balatonicus is present only in its northern part, from the village of Juodkrante to the city of Klaipeda. In the Vistula Lagoon, Ch. balatonicus is distributed over almost its entire area, while Ch. plumosus is found locally, only near the mouth of the Nogat River. The distribution of the sibling species in the lagoons is determined by the salinity gradient.     

New records of three <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraprionospio</Emphasis> species (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from Korean waters

The spionid polychaete Paraprionospio pinnata (Ehlers 1901) has been widely reported from Korean waters. We examined some specimens belonging to the genus Paraprionospio that had been collected from Korean waters, and identified them as Paraprionospio coora Wilson, 1990, Paraprionospio cordifolia Yokoyama, 2007 and Paraprionospio patiens Yokoyama, 2007, which are new to the fauna of Korea. The present study suggests misidentification of the specimens that have been previously reported as P. pinnata from Korean waters.     

Spawning characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clupea pallasii</Emphasis> in the coastal waters off Gyeongnam,Korea, during spawning season

The purpose of this study is to research the characteristics of spawning grounds of Clupea pallasii found at 1 spawning ground located in the coast of Yeongun-ri, Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, and 3 stations in Jinhae Bay. Diving observation was performed from January to June, 2014 at the coast of Yeongun-ri, and from February to June, 2016 at Jinhae Bay after total 4 stations (A: Gusan-myeon, B: Haengamdong, C: Hacheong-myeon, D: Jam-do) were constituted. During observation period, 1 spawning ground was found in Tongyeong area in January. In Jinhae Bay spawning grounds were found at 3 stations (A, B, D) out of 4 stations in February. Regarding the surrounding environment of spawning ground found at Yeongunri, Tongyeong, various kinds of seaweeds were distributed up to 1–5 m depth, and many branch type red algae were distributed. In case of Jinhae Bay, seaweeds were widely distributed from shallow water to 5 m depth. In addition, the scope that eggs were attached was considerably wide compared to Tongyeong area, and they were found at all the 3 spots, so C. pallasii is thought to use Jinhae Bay for its spawning ground widely. Eggs were attached from the surface to 3–4 m, and like Tongyeong area, eggs were attached to mostly branch type of red algae. The results of this study suggest that the spawning season of the C. pallasii in coast waters off Gyeongnam is until mid-February.