Variability of Particulate Organic Phosphorus in the Northwestern Part of the Black Sea

Based on long-term (1985–1995) monitoring data, the paper considers the peculiarities of seasonal variability in the spatial and vertical distribution of particulate organic phosphorus (Р_POM) in the surface layer and in the photosynthetic zone in the northwestern Black Sea. Regression equations, experimental data, and satellite observations for the chlorophyll a concentration allowed us to evaluate the seasonal longterm (1979–1995) variability in Р_POM in the surface layer and photosynthesis zone. The ratios of the concentrations of particulate organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll a are calculated and statistical estimates of seasonal changes in the Р_POM in the areas with different degrees of influence of river runoff and water of open seas are obtained. The consistency of intra-annual changes in the concentrations of Р_POM, chlorophyll a, and phytoplankton biomass is shown, which indicates the role of phytoplankton in the formation of Р_POM and in its intra- and interannual variability in the northwestern part of the sea. It is shown that long-term seasonal variations in Р_POM and related changes in the concentration of chlorophyll a depend on the variability of bulk river runoff, the extent of its abundance in the northwestern shelf, and regional hydrometeorological conditions.     

Accumulation of Chemical Elements in the Dominant Species of Copepods in the Ob Estuary and the Adjacent Shelf of the Kara Sea

Studies were carried out in the Ob River estuary and at the adjacent shelf of the Kara Sea. The concentrations of organic carbon, lipids, major elements (Na, Mg, P, S, K, and Ca), trace elements (Li, Be, B, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U), and rare-earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) were determined in the dominant species of mesozooplankton (Senecella siberica, Limnocalanus macrurus, and Calanus spp.). The similarities and differences are shown for the chemical compositions of the specimens. Calanus spp. are characterized by a large Li accumulation with concentrations ~350 times higher than those in S. siberica and L. macrurus. The total accumulation of chemical elements per unit volume is higher in L. macrurus than in S. siberica and Calanus spp., amounting to 6.63, 0.69, and 0.41 mg, respectively. The intensity of biological accumulation and the spatial disposition of the area of maximum accumulation of elements in the zooplankton community within the boundaries of the Ob River estuary depend on the hydrophysical conditions. Postmortem variations in the concentrations of chemical elements in dead L. macrurus are characterized by a multidirectional nature. The revealed distinctions of the chemical compositions in live and dead L. macrurus represent the features of lifetime and postmortem concentrations of elements.     

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).     

大型水母沙海蜇暴发的温带贫营养海洋生态系统中细菌和浮游植物的关系

Bacterial abundance, phytoplankton community structure and environmental parameters were investigated to study the relationships between bacteria and phytoplankton during giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai blooms in the central Yellow Sea during 2013. N. nomurai appeared in June, increased in August, reached a peak and began to degrade in September 2013. Results showed that phosphate was possible a key nutrient for both phytoplankton and bacteria in June, but it changed to nitrate in August and September. Phytoplankton composition significantly changed that pico-phytoplankton relative biomass significantly increased, whereas other size phytoplankton significantly decreased during jellyfish bloom. In June, a significantly positive correlation was observed between chlorophyll a concentration and bacterial abundance(r=0.67, P0.001, n=34).During jellyfish outbreak in August, there was no significant correlation between phytoplankton and bacteria(r=0.11, P0.05, n=25), but the relationship(r=0.71, P0.001, n=31) was rebuilt with jellyfish degradation in September. In August, small size phytoplankton occupied the mixed layer in offshore stations, while bacteria almost distributed evenly in vertical. Chlorophyll a concentration significantly increased from(0.42±0.056) μg/L in June to(0.74±0.174) μg/L in August, while bacterial abundance just slightly increased. Additionally, the negative net community production indicated that community respiration was not entirely determined by the local primary productivity in August. These results indicated that jellyfish blooms potentially affect coupling of phytoplankton and bacteria in marine ecosystems.     

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.     

Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Polar Front of the Eastern Barents Sea at the End of the Growth Season

Phytoplankton community and its distribution were investigated in the south part of the Polar Front in the eastern Barents Sea in October 2014. Analysis of the spatial differences in the phytoplankton structure was performed in connection with changes of the temperature, salinity and biogenic regime. At the end of the growing season in the phytoplankton community was dominated by destruction processes and the concentration of nutrients in the upper mixed layer was higher than the limiting level. Coccolithophores (Emiliania huxleyi and Discosphaera cf. tubifer) dominanted over investigated area. The maximum values of abundance and biomass of coccolithophores reached 90.4 mln.cell/m³ and 30.8 mgC/m³, drawing up 82% of the total number and 93% of the total biomass of phytoplankton. Influence of transformed the waters of Atlantic origin was observed in the western part of the investigated area. The number of species in the phytoplankton community here was 1.5–2 times lower than in the eastern part of the occupied mostly by Barents Sea water. In the eastern part of the presence of large dinoflagellates Neoceratium spp. (Ceratium spp.) and Dinophysis spp., lower values of chlorophyll a concentration, a higher proportion of pheophytin in the amount of pigment chlorophyll + pheophytin, the high content of ammonia in the upper mixed layer showed that in this area the phytoplankton was at a later seasonal succession stage than the western part.     

东海富营养化封闭海水养殖海域浮游植物分布与控制因子

The distribution of phytoplankton and its correlation with environmental factors were studied monthly during August 2012 to July 2013 in the Yantian Bay. A total of 147 taxa of phytoplankton were identified, and the average abundance was in the range of 0.57×10~4 to 7.73×10~4 cell/L. A total of 19 species dominated the phytoplankton assemblages, and several species that are widely reported to be responsible for microalgae blooms were the absolutely dominant species, such as Skeletonema costatum, Navicula sp., Thalassionema nitzschioides,Pleurosigma sp., and Licmophora abbreviata. The monthly variabilities in phytoplankton abundance could be explained by water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN), and suspended solids. The results of a redundancy analysis showed that p H and nutrients, including DIN and silicate(SiO_4), were the most important environmental factors controlling phytoplankton assemblages in specific months. It was found that nutrients and pH levels that were mainly influenced by mariculture played a vital role in influencing the variation of phytoplankton assemblages in the Yantian Bay. Thus, a reduction of mariculture activities would be an effective way to control microalgae blooms in an enclosed and intensively eutrophic bay.     

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.     

Species composition and seasonal dynamics of the population density and biomass of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyramimonas</Emphasis> (Prasinophyceae) from the Russian waters of East/Japan Sea

The species composition and seasonal dynamics of the population density and biomass of the prasinophycean algae of the genus Pyramimonas were investigated in the Russian waters of the East/Japan Sea. According to literature data and the results of our observations, eight species of the prasinophycean algae were identified, and some of them were new for the Russian waters of the East/Japan Sea as follows: P. aff. amylifera Ñonrad, P. aff. cordata McFadden, Hill et Wetherbee, and P. nansenii Braarud. An analysis of their seasonal dynamics showed that the most conspicuous winter peak of the population density of Pyramimonas species in the Amurskii Bay was clearly distinguishable in February. In winter and early spring, the prasinophycean algae made a considerable contribution of 28 to 60% into the total population density on the background of a relatively low biomass, 1.1–14.4% of the total phytoplankton biomass in the Amurskii Bay. In the Golden Horn Bay, the summer peak of the population density of Pyramimonas species was most intensive in June. In summer, during the period of mass development of the algae of the genus Pyramimonas in the Golden Horn Bay, the prasinophycean algae contributed up to 71% of the total population density and up to 84% of the total microalgal biomass. An increase was noted in the density and biomass of the Pyramimonas species in the polluted waters near the sewage water outlets in the Amurskii and Golden Horn bays.     

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.     

Feeding selectivity of calanoid copepods on phytoplankton in Jangmok Bay,south coast of Korea

Grazing impacts of calanoid copepods on size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass [chlorophyll (Chl)-a] were measured in Jangmok Bay, Geoje Island, Korea, monthly from November 2004 to October 2005. The ingestion rate of calanoid copepods on total phytoplankton biomass ranged between 1 and 215 ng Chl-a copepod^?1 day^?1 during bottle incubations. Results indicated that microphytoplankton (> 20 μm) was the primary food source for calanoid copepods in grazing experiments on 3 phytoplankton size categories (< 3 μm, 3–20 μm, and > 20 μm). The ingestion rate on microphytoplankton showed a significant increase (r = 0.93, p < 0.01) with Chl-a concentration. Nanophytoplankton (3–20 μm) showed a negative ingestion rate from June 2005 to October 2005, but the reason is not completely understood. Calanoid copepods were unable to feed efficiently on picophytoplankton (< 3 μm) due to unfavorable size. Calanoid copepods removed between 0.1% and 27.7% (average, 3.6 ± 15.8%) of the phytoplankton biomass daily during grazing experiments. Grazing pressure was high in winter and early spring (January–March: 15.6–27.7%), while low in summer (June–August: ?33.1–0.0%) and autumn (September–November: ?1.4–5.1%). Results suggest that calanoid copepods play an important role in controlling the biomass and size structure of phytoplankton in winter and early spring.     

Biology and distribution of hyperiids in the Sea of Okhotsk

Long-term studies in the Sea of Okhotsk (1986–2012) demonstrated that hyperiids account for a small portion of zooplankton, making up only from 1.0 to 5.3% by weight. The minimum hyperiid biomass was observed in the coastal zone. The hyperiid biomass in the open water shelf community increased from spring to autumn. In the Sea of Okhotsk, hyperiids are represented by ten species, among which the most abundant in the northern regions (mainly in Shelikhov Gulf) is Themisto libellula, while the most abundant in other regions is T. pacifica. The distribution of T. pacifica in different seasons showed that the maximum biomass was concentrated in the deep-water zone. The range of T. libellula in the Sea of Okhotsk is mostly limited to the Shelikhov Gulf, but in certain years its habitation area can expand. In warm years with low ice coverage, the maximum expansion of T. libellula to the west in the shelf zone of the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk was observed. Since variability of salinity and temperature in the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk may be fatal for the cryophilic stenohaline T. libellula species, forecasted changes in thermohaline circulation will make it possible to predict the population dynamics of this important species.     

春季长江口富营养化水域浮游植物群集对冲淡水和上升流的响应

A comprehensive study on the phytoplankton standing stocks, species composition and dominant species in the eutrophic Changjiang(Yangtze River) Estuary(CE) was conducted to reveal the response of phytoplankton assemblage to Changjiang Diluted Water(CDW) and upwelling in the spring. Phytoplankton presented peak standing stocks(13.03 μg/L of chlorophyll a, 984.5×103 cells/L of phytoplankton abundance) along the surface isohaline of 25. Sixty-six species in 41 genera of Bacillariophyta and 33 species in 19 genera of Pyrrophyta were identified, as well as 5 species in Chlorophyta and Chrysophyta. Karenia mikimotoi was the most dominant species, followed by Prorocentrum dentatum, Paralia sulcata, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima and Skeletonema costatum. A bloom of K. mikimotoi was observed in the stratified stations, where the water was characterized by low nitrate, low phosphate, low turbidity, and specific ranges of temperature(18–22 °C) and salinity(27–32). K.mikimotoi and P. dentatum accumulated densely in the upper layers along the isohaline of 25. S. costatum was distributed in the west of the isohaline of 20. Benthonic P. sulcata presented high abundance near the bottom,while spread upward at upwelling stations. CDW resulted in overt gradients of salinity, turbidity and nutritional condition, determining the spatial distribution of phytoplankton species. The restricted upwelling resulted in the upward transport of P. sulcata and exclusion of S. costatum, K. mikimotoi and P. dentatum. The results suggested that CDW and upwelling were of importance in regulating the structure and distribution of phytoplankton assemblage in the CE and the East China Sea.     

中国南海中南部花水母亚纲一新属四新种记述

本文描述了采自中国南海中南部花水母亚纲一新属四新种：南海宽管水母,新属、新种Laticanna nanhaiensis gen.nov. et sp.nov.,芽拟原帽水母,新种Protiaropsis gemmifera sp.nov.,南海潜水母,新种Merga nanhaiensis sp.nov.和顶室无球水母,新种Rhabdoon apiciloculus sp.nov.。编制了深帽水母科已知属分属检索表和拟帽水母属、潜水母属以及无球水母属已知种分种检索表。模式标本保存于中国水产科学研究院南海水产研究所。     

Photosynthetic pigments as indicators of phytoplankton development during spring and summer in Adventfjorden (Spitsbergen)

The study was carried out from April 30 until July 13 of 1997 in Adventfjorden (Spitsbergen). Formation of less saline and warmer surface water (～1 m thick) caused by melting of the fast ice was observed in the fjord during the first days of May. In summer a less saline surface layer was about 3 m thick. Euphotic depth measured under ice sheet reached 12 m, whereas load of mineral matter brought with riverine discharge in summer (the content of total particulate matter in the fjord reached 1.66 kg m^?2) dramatically reduced euphotic zone depth to 0.35 m. By pigment measurement three phases of phytoplankton development in Adventfjorden were distinguished: (1) spring bloom that has started under fast ice and reached maximum in the mid of May, (2) stagnation period in June, (3) increase of pigment concentration in July, what could indicate a start of the next algae bloom. Analyses of chlorophylls and carotenoids revealed that diatoms (chl c, fucoxanthin), and green algae (chl b, lutein) dominated phytoplankton community in the fjord. Moreover, the presence of peridinin indicates the presence of Dinophyta and alloxanthin—the occurence of Cryptophyta. In May and June 1997 phytoplankton appeared mainly in the surface of water, while in July, as a result of inflow of turbulent riverine waters into Adventfjorden, algae cells were pushed down and the highest numbers were observed at the depth ～20 m. Great phaeopigments to chl a ratio (= 0.54) found in the fjord seston in June and July probably shows strong impact of zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton development. High contribution of chlorophyllide a in porphyrin a poll in samples collected under fast ice (chlorophyllide a/chl a ratio = 0.18) reflects the final stage of algal communitie succession in ice, just before spring ice melt and release of biota to oceanic water. Chloropyllide a content during summer was minor or not detectable, demonstrating that diatom cells were in good physiological condition. High chl a allomer/chl a ratio (average = 0.11 for the period investigated) confirms high oxygen concentration in environment of Adventfjorden.     

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.     

Vertical distribution of suspended particulate matter in the Caspian Sea in early summer

The features of the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and its isotopic composition, total suspended particulate matter (SPM), and the structure of the phytoplankton community in the Middle and South Caspian Sea in May–June 2012 are discussed. The subsurface chlorophyll a maximum (SCM) was found everywhere at depths of ~20 to 40–60 m. The position of this layer is confined to the depth of the seasonal thermocline, which is determined by the development of a cold-water (dark) phytocenosis. The genesis of this layer was studied. The increase in chlorophyll a concentration in this layer is caused by an abundance of phytoplankton or an increased concentration of this phytopigments per algal cell. The highest values of the studied organic compounds and phytoplankton biomass are revealed as close to the seasonal thermocline extending from the southern periphery of the Derbent Depression to the Apsheron Sill, which is determined by the bottom topography. The presence of chlorophyll a at depths exceeding 300 m (up to ≥1 mg/m³) was revealed. This was supported by findings of individual algal cells containing chlorophyll a and even their accumulations in the deep water layer. The most probable mechanisms responsible for the presence of these cells at the deep water level are discussed in the paper. The vertical distribution of the values of the organic carbon isotopic composition is primarily controlled by the vertical structure of phytoplankton and chlorophyll a in the water column up to ~500 m and by biogeochemical processes at the redox barrier (~600 m layer). The relative stability of chlorophyll a and the stability of pheophytin a in anaerobic environments were verified. A significant amount of weakly transformed chlorophyll a was found close the sea bottom.     

On four closely related hypotrichous ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea): molecular characters, interspecific relationships and phylogeny defined with multigene sequence information

In order to clarify the phylogeny and relationships of the most confused hypotrichous ciliates, Holosticha-complex, four closely related holostichids (five populations), Holosticha bradburyae, H. diademata, Anteholosticha sp., and A. manca, were compared and analyzed using ITS2 secondary structures, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and SSrRNA gene sequences. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequences of these four species were first sequenced, and they shared sequence identities ranging from 68.0% to 90.1%, while two populations of Anteholosticha sp. differed in three nucleotides (sequence identity 99.8%). There were several minor differences among ITS2 secondary structures of these species, while two populations of Anteholosticha sp. had the identical secondary structure. Phylogenetic trees inferred from the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequences of stichotrichs using multiple algorithms (Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian) revealed similar topologies. The results show that:(1) Holosticha bradburyae and H. diademata firmly clustered together with strong bootstrap supports, forming a sister clade with Anteholosticha sp., (2) Anteholosticha appeared to be a paraphyletic assemblage, in which the morphotype A. manca was more closely related to Diaxonella trimarginata than to its congener Anteholosticha sp. Phylogenetic analyses based on the SSrRNA gene and the combined sequences of SSrRNA gene and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region revealed the similar relationships between Holosticha and Anteholosticha, nevertheless their positions within the subclass Stichotrichia differed from each other inferred from different genes.     

On the spatial–temporal variations in the chlorophyll-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> concentration on the Peter the Great Bay shelf during the winter–spring phytoplankton bloom according to satellite and subsatellite data

Chlorophyll-a concentration (C _chl) variations in the cross section within and outside the Peter the Great Bay shelf during different stages of the winter–spring phytoplankton bloom in 2003–2005 has been considered based on a ship (obtained during the R/V Akademik M.A. Lavrent’ev voyage of February 26 to March 9, 2003) and MODIS-Aqua spectroradiometer and the SeaWiFS color-scanner satellite data. A comparison of the C _chl variability obtained from the ship and satellite data indicates that these data are inconsistent. According to satellite data obtained at the MUMM atmospheric correction, the C _chl variability is distorted less than the NIR-correction data. Studying the variations in the coefficients of light absorption by the detritus and yellow substance (a _dg) and light backscattering by suspended particles (b _bp), C _chl, chlorophyll-a fluorescence (F _chl) according to the satellite data allow us to state that the variations in the discrepancy between the satellite and ship C _chl values are mainly caused by the variations in the content of the detritus and yellow substance in water. Based on the satellite data, it has been revealed that the a _dg values increase with increasing wind mixing after the phytoplankton bloom (about 2–5 km areas where the a _dg, C _chl, F _chl, and bbp values abruptly increased in 2005, apparently due to eddy formation). It has been indicated that the F _chl characteristic, which is close to C _chl, increases when the favorable conditions for the phytoplankton bloom deteriorate. Therefore, this characteristic cannot be used to identify C _chl under the indicated conditions.     

Effect of Mercury Chloride on the Chlorophyl <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> and Pheophytin Content in Marine Microalgae: Measuring the Flow of Autotrophic Phytoplankton Using Sediment Traps Data

The present work aimed to study the influence of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) on pigment content (chlorophyll a and pheophytin) in sediment traps on the basis of experimental data. The marine microalgal cultures of Conticribra weissflogii (Mediophyceae), Tetraselmis viridis (Chlorodendrophyceae), Amphidinium carterae (Dinophyceae), Nannochloropsis sp. (Eustigmatophyceae) were used. The obtained results revealed that the influence of mercury on pigment content as well as on photosynthetic activity was different in different species. The considerable decrease in phytopigments content was observed in Amphidinium carterae and Conticribra weissflogii, while the proportion of pheophytin increased. The pigment content of Tetraselmis viridis was not different from the control line, while for Nannochloropsis sp. the increase in pigment concentration was noticed. The complete immediate inhibition of photosynthetic activity was observed in Conticribra weissflogii, Tetraselmis viridis, Amphidinium carterae, while Nannochloropsis sp. responded only after 24 h of exposition. The pigment degradation rate was almost the same for diatoms and dinoflagellates. The equation for estimating the phytopigments content in sediment traps, that takes into consideration the exposition time, is proposed.