Biogeochemical Assessment of Shallow Sea Environments White Sea
Biogeochemical Assessment of Shallow Sea Environments (White Sea, Russian Arctic) S. Koukina, G. Korneeva, L. Ametistova and T. Bek P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology
Russian Arctic Kara sea Laptev sea Barents sea Pechora sea White sea Russia
The White sea of Russian Arctic • the inner sub Arctic sea • extreme diversity of enclosed estuarine systems • unique biota
The Kandalaksha Bay of the White sea • wide estuary with evenly distributed fresh water discharge • contains a continuum of shallow sea environments
Location of sampling stations
Sampling 18 surface sediment samples were collected in June 2000
Study parameters • Geochemical • Biochemical TOC, TON, TS, TP, TOC: TON total metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, Li, Zn, Pb) enzymatic (amylase and protease) activities express enzymatic test systems
Russian Arctic Laptev sea Kara sea Barents sea Pechora sea White sea
Mean TOC and metal contents (to nearest g g – 1) in the surficial fine-grained sediments from the Karelian shore and those found in the White sea and Russian Arctic sediments
Elevated Zn and Cr levels in Karelian shore sediments: anthropogenic or natural? • found values are below the threshold levels according to the sediment quality guidelines • there is no major anthropogenic source of Zn and Cr • some rock building minerals of the area may concentrate Zn and Cr found disparities are related to natural differences in sediment compositions
Azocasein turn over period (h) Sediment quality assessment by an express test with azocasein-trypsin 10 h Chernorechenskaya Poyakonda Rugozerskaya Ermolinskaya Griaznaya Podvolochie station number
Enzymatic activities in Karelian shore sediments proteolytic activity, EU amylolytic activity, EU • dynamic index of organic matter decomposition rate • largely controlled by the sediment granulometry Ermolinskaya Poyakonda Chernorechenskaya Rugozerskaya Griaznaya Podvolochie
Trace element distribution in the Karelian shore sediments Rug element content (mg/kg) Poy Gri Che Pod TOC content (%) Erm
Conclusions • The present study has shown that local hydrodynamic situation predisposes geochemical and biological patterns of the environment and thus possesses considerable ecological relevance. • Comprehensive biogeochemical approach exercised in the current research provides valuable information on grounds state of health and can thus serve as a basis of objective environmental assessment of a region.
- Slides: 18