Organic matter of the North Atlantic

The areas that we studied in the North Atlantic (53 and 60°N) and in the Labrador Sea in the summer were characterized by a wide variability of the concentrations of dissolved and particulate organic matter and its elemental composition both in the surface and in the deep waters. The concentrations of dissolved and particulate C_org varied within 69–360 μM and 0.7–25.6 μM, respectively; the N_org and P_org contents varied within 1.4–22.2 μM and 0.02–0.86 μM, respectively. The maximal concentrations were registered in the photic layer and in the zones of mixing between the waters of different genesis. The particulate matter contribution to the total organic matter (OM) content varied from 0.5 to 15.4%. The waters of the photic layer contained more particulate C_org than those of the near-bottom layer. The values of the C/N molar ratios from the surface to the bottom over the entire aquatic area surveyed varied 5-to 6-fold; at that, the values of the C/P molar ratios varied more than tenfold. In the most productive waters, the values of the C/N ratios were close to the Redfield ratios (6–10). The values of the C/P molar ratios varied from 160 in the photic layer to 4831 in the deep waters. The pronounced non-uniformity in the spatial distribution of the OM and its elemental composition is caused not only by the penetration of the waters of different origins but also by the changes in the microplankton metabolism under mixing of these waters.     

Long-Term Dynamics of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Subsoil Water in Ivankovo Reservoir Drainage Basin

Water Resources - The article presents the results of summer dry-season areal surveys of subsoil water chemistry in the drainage basin of the Ivankovo Reservoir in the Volga segment from Tver City...     

Spatial-temporal variations in organic matter of the Sea of Azov

The spatial-temporal variations in the amount and biochemical composition of organic matter and the rates of its transformations in the ecosystems of the Russian part of the Sea of Azov are analyzed. Maximum OM concentrations are typical for Taganrog Bay. A characteristic feature of the Sea of Azov is a large proportion of particulate organic matter, which in summer in Taganrog Bay exceeded 35%. It is shown that not only the concentration of organic matter changes from season to season, but also its elementary (C_org, N_org, and P_org) and biochemical composition (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids). The major biochemical compound of dissolved organic matter is shown to be carbohydrates (13–28%), and that of particulate matter is protein (44–51%). The hydrolytic (phosphatase and protease) and oxidation-reduction enzymes of electron-transport system demonstrate a high activity in summer. The estimated short turnover times of phosphates and protein suggest the rapid and complete utilization of organic matter in the Sea of Azov.     

The rates of organic matter destruction in the central part of the Arctic Basin

The intensity of the processes of organic matter (OM) destruction in the deep-water part of the Arctic Basin is considered in terms of the activities of hydrolytic enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and proteases) and of redox enzymes of the electron transport system (ETS). High concentrations of mineral phosphorus are shown to cause low phosphatase activity (0.000–0.005 μM P/l h). The average time of the phosphate recycling amounted to about 240 h. The ranges of the total and specific activity of protease are 0.000–0.192 mg of azocasein/(l h) and 0.00–3.57 mg of azocasein/h mg of protein, respectively. It is found that the microplankton production of exo- and endopeptidase in the Arctic Basin is controlled by the concentration of nitrates in the water. The values of the total and the specific activities of the ETS enzymes vary within 0.27–8.96 μl O₂/(l h) and 8.4–583 μl O₂/mg of protein h, respectively. It is shown that the maximum values of the total activities of the hydrolytic and redox enzymes are characteristic for the photic layer. The vertical fluxes of organic carbon from the photic layer, being calculated by the activity of the ETS enzymes, amounted to 220–600 g of C_org/year m². The presence of ice intensifies the redox processes by factors of 2–15.     

Elemental and biochemical composition of organic matter in the waters of the Russian sector of the Arctic Basin under the present conditions

The considered area of the Russian sector of the Arctic Basin was characterized in August–September of 2008 by the wide horizontal and vertical variability of the concentrations of dissolved and particulate organic matter (OM), as well as of its elemental and biochemical composition. The concentration ranges amounted to 51.6–434 and 2.2–18.6 μM, respectively, for the dissolved and particulate C_org; up to 1.9–30.2 μM for N_org; and up to 0.08–1.53 μM for P_org. The maximum values were characteristic for the Russian Arctic shelf. The analysis of the authors’ and published data showed that a pronounced accumulation of OM, mainly in the dissolved form, took place in the Arctic Basin within the past 12 years. The concentrations of dissolved OM were higher in the western sector of the Russian Arctic than those in the eastern sector. The main biochemical components in all the waters constituting the Arctic Ocean are carbohydrates and lipids for dissolved OM and proteins and carbohydrates for particulate matter.     

Organic matter of the Kiziltashskie Limans

Data on biochemical ecosystem monitoring of Kiziltashskie Limans are given. The limans are the only natural water bodies in the Russian Black Sea where pascual breeding of very valuable commercial fish is implemented. The presented concentrations of dissolved and particulate organic matter are 2–5 times greater than the values typical of the coastal zone of the Black Sea (from 7.9 to 27.7 mg/L and from 0.3 to 1.5 mg/L, respectively). The main biochemical component of the dissolved organic matter is carbohydrates, and that of particulate matter is protein. The share of particulate organic matter in the Kiziltashskie Limans never exceeds 7%. The elemental (C, N, P) and biochemical composition of organic matter is studied (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids). The rates of enzymatic reactions vary from season to season. Thus, processes of hydrolytic splitting of phosphor-organic compounds during primary production are very intensive in the spring, while processes of organic matter oxidation, catalyzed by enzymes of electron-transport system, are intensive in the summer.     

Natural post-fire bog recovery

The dynamics of natural recovery of bog massifs in Tver oblast, which suffered from fire in 2010, is discussed. The presented conclusions are based on three-year field observations at check sites of Galitskii mokh bog along with monitored variations of the physicochemical properties of peat ash and pyrolyzed peat, bog water chemistry, the development of microbial communities, and vegetation recovery. Moreover, some features of bog massif flooding are discussed.     

Changes in Element Concentrations in Moss Segments After Cross-Transplanting Between a Polluted and Non-Polluted Site

To test the ability of Hylocomium splendens segments to retain absorbed heavy metals (Fe, V and Pb) and some physiological elements (Ca, Mg and K) over a period of some years, moss turf was cross-transplanted between polluted and background sites. Thereby it was possible to determine how quickly the concentrations in moss can reach chemical equilibrium with the atmospheric inputs. At a particular site (background or polluted), the physiological elements in transplanted material quickly reached the levels in the non-transplanted moss. For the heavy metals, the concentrations remained stable over 3 years in moss cross-transplanted from a polluted to a background site. There appeared to be inherent differences between moss at the background and polluted sites in the ability to absorb and accumulate heavy metals.