Resources and habitat conditions of the bivalve mollusk Anadara broughtonii in the northern part of Amur Bay (Sea of Japan)

The population of ark shell Anadara broughtonii inhabiting the northern part of Amur Bay (Sea of Japan) is prone to the effects of the unstable environmental factors characteristic of the estuarine zone. The significant proportion of individuals with a decreased growth rate is due to the ecological and physiological peculiarities of the species at the northern limit of the geographical range. During the period of 2004?C2009, the temperature and salinity characteristics in the habitats of A. broughtonii showed no significant fluctuations. The commercial fishing for the ark shell was performed taking into account the scientifically approved maximum allowable catch size. The current condition of the population can be considered as stable.     

Accumulation of Subcolloidal Fraction Elements of Bottom Sediments in Amur Bay (Sea of Japan)

Oceanology - The mean contents of elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, V, Co, Cd, Ni, As, Sc, Ga, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W, Th, Mo) in the subcolloidal fraction of bottom sediments in the northern part of...     

日本广岛湾非潮汐的水位变化

Nontidal sea level changes generated in Hiroshima Bay of the Seto-Inland Sea in Japan are studied over various time scales, from the sub-tidal （2 d to 1 month） to inter-annual scales （〉2 years）. The total sea level variation produces a standard deviation （STD） of 12.5 cm. The inter-annual component of the sea level variation in Hiroshima Bay oscillates with a STD of 3.4 cm, forming a long-term trend of 4.9 mm/a. The STD of the sea level variation is 9.8 cm for the seasonal component （8 months to 2 years） and 4.7 cm for the intra-seasonal one （1 month to 8 months）. Significant sea level variations with a STD of 4.2 cm also occur in the sub-tidal range. Special attention is paid to the sub-tidal sea level changes. It is found that the upwelling and associated transient sea level changes generated along the north coast of Hiroshima Bay （opened southward） by the strong northerly wind, play a significant role in sub-tidal sea level changes. The transient sea level changes are over 10 cm in most cases when caused by typhoons that pass through the Pacific Ocean offthe Kii Peninsula, located at about 400 km east of Hiroshima Bay. Reasonable sea level changes are evaluated by the balance of pressure forces at the onshore and offshore boundary of the study domain.     

The carbonate system in hypersaline solutions: dead sea brines

Various investigators reported a decrease in pH as seawater is concentrated. A similar phenomenon was reported for Dead Sea waters which are about ten times more saline than seawater. The reasons for the low pH values of Dead Sea waters (pH 5.9–6.5), which precipitate CaCO₃, were investigated by determining the apparent dissociation constants of carbonic acid in these brines. A new method, based on alkalinity titration and least-squares fitting, was used to estimate the proton activity coefficient (γ_H+) and the first and second dissociation constants of carbonic acid (K₁′, K₂′) in natural and artificial Dead Sea waters. It was found that as the salt content increases, pK′₁ and pK′₂ values progressively decrease whereas γ_H+ sharply increase. At the highest salinity investigated (TDS = 330 gl^?1) γ_H+ pK′₁ and pK′₂ values are 24.5, 5.09 and 6.23, respectively, as compared to about 0.8, 5.9, 9.1 respectively for normal seawater (19‰ chlorinity) at the same temperature (30°C).The implication of the results of this study regarding solubility of CaCO₃ and the general behavior of the carbonate system in hypersaline solutions is discussed.     

Environmental changes in the Amur Bay (Japan/East Sea) during the last 150 years revealed by examination of diatoms and silicoflagellates

Siliceous unicellular microalgae — diatoms and silicoflagellates from sediments in Amur Bay were analyzed with high temporal resolution to examine changes over the last 150 years. The age of sediments was estimated from unsupported ²¹⁰Pb controlled by ¹³⁷Cs. Siliceous microalgae examined in each cm of two sediment cores demonstrated significant changes in the ecological structure of the assemblages that reflected changes in sedimentation conditions. During the years 1860–1910 the sediments accumulated under the great influence of river runoff. For about the next 50 years the number of freshwater species and marine benthic diatoms in sediments sharply declined, which is probably connected with the weakening of the effects of river runoff due to deforestation. Since the early 1960s the sedimentation conditions in the Amur Bay changed significantly. Marine planktonic diatoms and silicoflagellates began to prevail in sediments and this reflects increasing microphytoplankton productivity. One consequence of this was the formation of seasonal bottom hypoxia in Amur Bay. The ecological structure of diatom and silicoflagellate assemblages indicates that the sea level began to rise since the early 1960s and this corresponds to the water and air temperature increase in the area for that period. The obtained data suggest that the environmental changes over the last 150 years in Armur Bay are associated with the weakening of river runoff due to deforestation, sea level rise caused by global warming, and the increase of siliceous microplankton productivity that resulted in the formation of seasonal bottom hypoxia.

     

Recycling of manganese in the coastal sea,Funka Bay,Japan

The downward flux of Mn through the water column was directly measured using sediment traps. The Mn flux from the bottom sediment to the water column, and the removal rate of Mn in the bottom water were estimated from Mn gradients in the bottom water. The sediment traps were deployed more than ten times at the same station in Funka Bay, Japan. The trapped settling matter and filtered suspended matter samples were analyzed for Mn, Fe, Al and ignition loss. The observed downward flux of Mn through the water column in winter (1.3–2.8 μg/cm² /day) was generally an order of magnitude larger than that in summer (0.13–0.45 μg/cm² /day), and the Mn fluxes for both seasons were also greater than the accumulation rate of Mn in the bottom sediments (0.10 μg/cm ²/day). More Al was contained in the trapped settling matter than in the suspended matter, while Mn showed the opposite behavior. The Fe/Mn ratio of the residual fraction (obtained by subtracting the sediment component of the settling matter) was rather well correlated with the corresponding ratio in suspended matter. Settling particles are expected to scavenge suspended matter during their passage through the water column. The flux of Mn across the sediment—water interface was estimated from its vertical profiles in the water column to be 0.1–0.3 μg/cm² day. The residence time of Mn in bottom water was about one to several months. These results suggest that Mn is actively recycled between the water column and the sediments of the coastal sea.     

A Yesso Scallop Population Exposed to Climate-Induced and Anthropogenic Habitat Changes in Amur Bay,Sea of Japan

Oceanology - In the study area, located in the coastal waters of Amur Bay off Vladivostok, which is exposed to industrial and domestic sewage effluents, the population of the Yesso scallop...     

Upwelling of oxygen-depleted water (Sumishio) in Omura Bay,Japan

Wind-induced circulation and the distribution of hypoxia corresponding to the upwelling of oxygen-depleted water (called “Aoshio” in Japan and “Sumishio” locally in Omura Bay) in Omura Bay, Japan, was examined field observations and by three-dimensional modeling. During the calm weather in summer, well-mixed strait water, in rich oxygen at the mouth of the bay intruded into the middle layer of the bay, southward and northward along the west and east coast, respectively, forming basin-scale cyclonic circulation. A stagnant water mass was formed below the center of this cyclonic circulation, and it became hypoxic water. As a result of the prevailing strong southeast (northeast) wind, the bottom hypoxia moved in a southeasterly (northeasterly) direction. This induces the upwelling of hypoxic water, accompanied by mass mortality of marine organisms.     

Composition and quantitative distribution of macrozoobenthos in Amur Bay

The data on the species composition, trophic structure, and distribution of macrozoobenthos in Amur Bay obtained in 2001 are presented. Long-term changes in the benthos are analyzed. In 2001, the total benthos biomass significantly increased, although the parameters of the species richness declined as compared to 1986–1989. In 2001, as well as in the 1970s and 1980s, the benthos trophic structure was characterized by the prevalence of deposit feeders. The entire structure of the benthos is evaluated as an eutrophic one. Eutrophication of the bay is considered to be the most probable cause of the negative changes in the benthic communities of the bay in 2001, as well as 15 years ago.     

Accumulation Properties of Major and Trace Elements of the Subcolloidal Fraction of Bottom Sediments in the Marginal Filter of the Razdolnaya River (Amur Bay,Sea of Japan) under the Influence of Increased Runoff

Oceanology - The study reveals the distribution of contents of major (Si, Al, Fe, Mn) and trace elements (Ga, V, W, Th, Mo, U, Be, Y, Cd), Сorg, and clay minerals in the subcolloidal fraction...     

Long-term and real-time monitoring system of the East/Japan sea

Long-term, continuous, and real-time ocean monitoring has been undertaken in order to evaluate various oceanographic phenomena and processes in the East/Japan Sea. Recent technical advances combined with our concerted efforts have allowed us to establish a real-time monitoring system and to accumulate considerable knowledge on what has been taking place in water properties, current systems, and circulation in the East Sea. We have obtained information on volume transport across the Korea Strait through cable voltage measurements and continuous temperature and salinity profile data from ARGO floats placed throughout entire East Sea since 1997. These ARGO float data have been utilized to estimate deep current, inertial kinetic energy, and changes in water mass, especially in the northern East Sea. We have also developed the East Sea Real-time Ocean Buoy (ESROB) in coastal regions and made continual improvements till it has evolved into the most up-to-date and effective monitoring system as a result of remarkable technical progress in data communication systems. Atmospheric and oceanic measurements by ESROB have contributed to the recognition of coastal wind variability, current fluctuations, and internal waves near and off the eastern coast of Korea. Long-term current meter moorings have been in operation since 1996 between Ulleungdo and Dokdo to monitor the interbasin deep water exchanges between the Japanese and Ulleung Basins. In addition, remotely sensed satellite data could facilitate the investigation of atmospheric and oceanic surface conditions such as sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height, near-surface winds, oceanic color, surface roughness, and so on. These satellite data revealed surface frontal structures with a fairly good spatial resolution, seasonal cycle of SST, atmospheric wind forcing, geostrophic current anomalies, and biogeochemical processes associated with physical forcing and processes. Since the East Sea has been recognized as a natural laboratory for global oceanic changes and a clue to abrupt climate change, we aim at constructing a 4-D continuous real-time monitoring system, over a decade at least, using the most advanced techniques to understand a variety of oceanic processes in the East Sea.     

GNSS-R观测下的海面飓风风速反演

利用全球导航卫星系统在地球表面的反射信号（GNSS-R）进行海面风速反演已经被广泛研究并作为一种重要的遥感手段。目前,该L波段微波信号的相关功率已可以在多普勒频率和时延码片空间进行多普勒时延图像的成像。由于该图像的图像特征与海面粗糙度有较高的相关性,因此能够用来进行海面风场反演。然而,对于该遥感手段而言,其双基雷达前向散射截面（BRCS）理论上与海面粗糙度有更高的相关性,如同目前合成孔径雷达使用后向雷达散射截面而非相关功率。所以,本文通过改进已有的GNSS-R的双基雷达散射截面方程,代替相关功率在多普勒时延空间进行成像,得出了与海面粗糙度相关的双基雷达散射截面图像（BRCS map）。基于该图像,本文提出了三种与其形状特征相关的观测量,通过2005年Dennis飓风GNSS-R机载数据生成的16000多幅图像进行地球物理模式函数建模并与经典的一维时延波形匹配方法得出结果进行对比分析,得出更为精确的风速反演结果。     

Time series of carbonate system variables off Otaru coast in Hokkaido, Japan

We report several biogeochemical parameters (dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (TA), dissolved oxygen (DO), phosphate (PO₄), nitrate + nitrite (NO₃ + NO₂), silicate (Si(OH)₄)) in a region off Otaru coast in Hokkaido, Japan on a “weekly” basis during the period of April 2002–May 2003. To better understand the long-term temporal variations of the main factors affecting CO₂ flux in this coastal region and its role as a sink/source of atmospheric CO₂, we constructed an algorithm of DIC and TA using other hydrographic properties. We estimated the CO₂ flux across the air–sea interface by using the classical bulk method. During 1998–2003 in our study region, the estimated fCO_2sea ranged about 185–335 μatm. The maximum of fCO_2sea in the summer was primarily due to the change of water temperature. The minimum of fCO_2sea in the early spring can be explained not only by the change of water temperature but also the change of nutrients and chlorophyll-a. To clarify the factors affecting fCO_2sea (water temperature, salinity, and biological activity), we carried out a sensitivity analysis of these effects on the variation of fCO_2sea. In spring, the biological effect had the largest effect for the minimum of fCO_2sea (40%). In summer, the water temperature effect had the largest effect for the maximum of fCO_2sea (25%). In fall, the water temperature effect had the largest effect for the minimum of fCO_2sea (53%). In winter, the biological effect had the largest effect for the minimum of fCO_2sea (35%).We found that our study region was a sink region of CO₂ throughout a year (−0.78 mol/m²/yr). Furthermore, we estimated that the increase of fCO_2sea was about 0.56 μatm/yr under equilibrium with the atmospheric CO₂ content for the period 1998–2003, with the temporal changes in the variables (T, S, PO₄) on fCO_2sea, thus as the maximum trend of each variable on fCO_2sea was 0.22 μatm/yr, and the trend of residual fCO₂ including gas exchange was 0.34 μatm/yr. This result suggests that interaction among variables would affect gas exchange between air and sea effects on fCO_2sea. We conclude that this study region as a representative coastal region of marginal seas of the North Pacific is special because it was measured, but there is no particular significance in comparison to any other area.     

海平面上升情景下辽东湾海岸侵蚀及影响评估

基于海洋站潮位观测和中国沿海海平面变化影响调查等数据,分析了辽东湾沿岸海平面变化及海岸侵蚀状况,并定量评估了未来海平面上升情景下,辽东湾两岸典型沙质海岸侵蚀影响和沙滩养护投入。分析预测和评估结果表明:1980-2017年,辽东湾沿海海平面上升速率为3.0 mm/a,其中辽东湾东岸沿海海平面上升速率明显高于西岸。2009-2017年,辽宁营口白沙湾、绥中网户、绥中南山港和绥中团山气象观测场岸段后退和下蚀较为严重,部分岸段滩肩蚀退达2～3 m/a。预计2100年,辽东湾沿海海平面上升幅度在20～48 cm之间,由海平面上升引发的辽东湾海岸侵蚀土地损失为23.1 km2,土地经济损失为1410万元。为减缓海岸侵蚀,旅游沙滩和一般沙滩养护总投入分别为11亿元和46亿元,全岸段养护成本较高,应选取旅游沙滩等重点岸段进行养护。     

Differential gene expression in the body wall of the sea cucumber(Apostichopus japonicus) under strong lighting and dark conditions

Sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus is very sensitive to light changes. It is important to study the influence of light on the molecular response of A. japonicus. In this study, RNA-seq provided a general overview of the gene expression profiles of the body walls of A. japonicus exposed to strong light("light"), normal light("control") and fully dark("dark") environment. In the comparisons of "control" vs. "dark", "control" vs. "light" and "dark" vs."light", 1 161, 113 and 1 705 differentially expressed genes(DEGs) were identified following the criteria of|log_2 ratio|≥1 and FDR≤0.001, respectively. Gene ontology analysis showed that "cellular process" and "binding"enriched the most DEGs in the category of "biological process" and "molecular function", while "cell" and "cell part" enriched the most DEGs in the category of "cellular component". And the DEGs were mapped to 214, 41 and229 pathways in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database, and 51, 2 and 57 pathways were significantly enriched, respectively. Light-specific DEGs identified in this study will be important targets for further investigation to establish the biochemical mechanisms involved in the adaption of this sea cucumber to changes in the level of environmental light.     

强光照和黑暗条件下刺参体壁的基因表达差异

参对光照变化非常敏感,研究刺参对光照的分子响应非常重要。本研究应用RNA测序获取了刺参暴露于强光（“强光”）、正常光照（“对照”）和完全黑暗（“黑暗”）环境下体壁的基因表达谱情况,通过“对照”与“黑暗”,“对照”与“强光”和“黑暗”与“强光”的比较,在|log₂ ratio|≥1和FDR≤0.001的标准下分别发现了1161、113和1705个差异表达基因（DEGs）。基因本体分析表明,“cellular process”和“binding”在“生物过程”和“分子功能”类别中的DEGs富集最多,而“cell”和“cell part”在“细胞组分”类别中的DEGs富集最多。将DEGs与Kyoto Encyclopedia基因和基因组数据库上的于214、41和229条通路进行比对,发现了51、2和57条通路分别显著富集。本研究发现的光特异性DEGs可作为深入研究刺参对光照变化的生化适应机制的重要目标基因。     

Features of hydrophysical and hydrochemical conditions in Blagopoluchiya Bay (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago)

The report presents the results of hydrophysical and hydrochemical studies in Blagopoluchiya Bay (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago) based on data of integrated expeditions of the Institute of Oceanology in the Kara Sea in 2007, 2013, and 2014. The main focus was the influence of the Ob and Yenisei rivers, as well as of the runoff of meltwaters from the coasts of the archipelago on the hydrochemical and hydrophysical structures of the bay waters. The features of water exchange between the bay and adjacent aquatic area are considered, along with the renewal mechanisms for deep waters in the bay (deeper than 100 m). The possible occurrence of stagnant effects in deep layers of the bay is evaluated.     

Comparing management of recreational Pagrus fisheries in Shark Bay (Australia) and Sagami Bay (Japan): Conventional catch controls versus stock enhancement

This paper compares the management of recreational fisheries for pink snapper (Pagrus auratus) in the inner gulfs of Shark Bay (Australia) and the closely related red sea bream (Pagrus major) in Sagami Bay (Japan). Fishing and other factors have resulted in population declines of these species in both regions. In response, fishery managers have employed contrasting management, more conventional catch controls in Shark Bay and stock enhancement in Sagami Bay. Although recreational harvest levels were higher than commercial levels in both fisheries, the driving mechanisms are comparatively different due to historical, social, economic and political issues in the respective locations.     

Mixed carbonate-siliciclastic infilling of a Neogene carbonate shelf-valley system: Tampa Bay, West-Central Florida

The shelf-valley system underlying Tampa Bay, Florida’s largest estuary, is situated in the middle of the Neogene carbonate Florida Platform. Compared to well-studied fluvially incised coastal plain valley systems, this shelf-valley system is unique in its karstic origin and its alternating carbonate-siliciclastic infill. A complex record of sea-level changes, paleo-fluvial variability and marine processes have controlled the timing and mechanisms of this ‘compound’ shelf-valley infill. A dense grid of high-resolution, single-channel seismic data were collected at the mouth of Tampa Bay, in an attempt to define this stratigraphy, determine the controls on deposition, and define the underlying structure of this shelf-valley system. The seismic data were correlated with nearby wells and boreholes for lithologic and age control. Sequence stratigraphic methods were incorporated in order to develop an integrated chronostratigraphy for the depositional infilling of the shelf-valley system. Five seismic sequences were identified. Sequence boundaries generally show erosional truncation and karstification, with downlap of overlying sequences. Structure contour and isopach maps indicate that the Tampa Bay shelf-valley system has remained in essentially the same location since its formation in the early Miocene, although the provenance of sedimentary infill has changed. This change is due to increasing amounts of siliciclastic material during the Neogene. Seismic facies interpretations indicate lower-energy, northward prograding deposition dominated by predominantly carbonate sediments within the lowest Sequence A. Higher energy, siliciclastic fluvio-deltaic deposition within sequences B and C originates to the east and northeast of the shelf-valley system related to a Pliocene pulse of sedimentation onto the Florida Platform. Finally, marine processes (longshore transport, ebb-tidal delta formation) dominate the upper two sequences (D and E), reworking these siliciclastic sediments into a spatially mixed carbonate-siliciclastic depositional setting.