Консорты брюхоногого моллюска Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) в северной части Чёрного моря. Часть V: Annelida (Polychaeta)

Брюхоногий моллюск-вселенец Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) в 1940-х занял свободную экологическую нишу терминального хищника в бентосных сообществах шельфа Чёрного моря и стал важным элементом его экосистемы. Способность R. venosa оказывать разрушительное воздействие на биоценозы фильтраторов определяет необходимость постоянного мониторинга состояния популяций этого вида. Однако его экологическая роль не сводится только к хищничеству. Довольно крупная раковина R. venosa служит твёрдым субстратом для водорослей, прикреплённых и малоподвижных (седентарных) бентосных животных организмов, среди которых иногда находят убежище и подвижные свободноживущие формы. Цель работы — описание специфического комплекса эпибионтных организмов на раковине рапаны, который рассматривается как консорция, где R. venosa является ядром. Для изучения консортного сообщества R. venosa были осуществлены сборы рапаны в 7 районах северной части Чёрного моря: 1 — пляж Мамайя, Румыния; 2 — северо-западная часть Чёрного моря (СЗЧМ), Крымский сектор; 3 — Севастополь; 4 — Алупка; 5 — Ялта — Алушта; 6 — Карадаг; 7 — Керченский пролив. Сбор материала в прибрежной зоне (до 15 м) проводился легководолазным способом, на больших глубинах (до 40 м) использовался дночерпатель «Океан-50». Всего было собрано и проанализировано 856 экземпляров R. venosa. Основной объём материала в количестве 750 экз. R. venosa собран в прибрежной зоне г. Севастополя (Юго-Западный Крым) в диапазоне глубин 1.5–10.0 м. Сбор особей рапаны проводили тотально, каждый экземпляр помещали в отдельный пластиковый пакет с указанием района сбора, глубины и биотопа. Параллельно со сбором моллюсков проводили визуальные наблюдения и фотофиксацию гидробионтов in situ. По результатам исследований расширен таксономический список эпибионтных организмов рапаны, впервые приводится таксономический состав подвижных форм, постоянно или временно присутствующих в консорции R. venosa. Представленная первая часть работы посвящена эпибионтам рапаны, относящимся к четырём (Porifera, Cnidaria, Bryozoa, Chordata) из семи обнаруженных типов животных, с указанием глубин обнаружения и типа грунта, а также комментариями по встречаемости, количеству обнаруженных видов и их взаимодействию с ядром консорции. Тип Porifera представлен 1 видом, Cnidaria — 2, Bryozoa — 5, Chordata — 5 видами. Сверлящая губка Pione vastifica обнаружена во всех исследованных районах кроме р-на 2 (СЗЧМ) со встречаемостью от 20 до 90 % и площадью повреждения раковин до 100 % (в среднем 30–35 %). Представители Cnidaria обнаружены единично в р-не 3 (Actinia equina) и в р-не 5 (Diadumene lineata). Мшанки — наиболее распространённая группа животных — консортов рапаны, присутствующая во всех районах исследований. Их встречаемость варьировала от 10 до 100 %, площадь покрытия раковины — от 0 до 85 %. Более 90 % в общей площади покрытия раковин рапаны мшанками и их встречаемости приходится на Cryptosula pallasiana. Вторым по показателям развития видом мшанок является Conopeum seurati, который обнаружен в р-нах 3, 6 и 7, где имел встречаемость до 30 % и площадь покрытия до 25 %. Остальные 3 вида мшанок (Schizomavella auriculata, Bowerbankia imbricata, Hippothoa sp.) встречались редко. Представители Chordata — 2 вида асцидий (Botryllus schlosseri, Ciona intestinalis) и 3 вида рыб (Diplecogaster bimaculata, Parablennius tentacularis, Scorpaena porcus) — зафиксированы единично в р-нах 2, 3, 5. Для рассмотренных четырёх типов животных организмов список консортов R. venosa в биотопе рыхлых грунтов (10 видов) в два раза больше, чем у скальной экоформы (5 видов). Рассмотренные организмы имеют различную степень и характер связей с ядром консорции — от комменсализма до паразитизма. Дана обобщённая информация о водорослевых обрастаниях и суммарном покрытии раковин R. venosa комплексом эпибионтов. Результаты работы показывают, что R. venosa в Чёрном море стала значимым элементом экосистемы, увеличивающим биологическое разнообразие донной фауны за счёт формирования собственных консортивных комплексов эпибионтных организмов.

Исследование моллюсков-симбионтов хищной гастроподы Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) является продолжением работы по описанию таксономического состава комплекса эпибионтов, формирующегося на раковине рапаны. Современные исследования инвазивной гастроподы R. venosa показывают, что экологическая роль этого вида не сводится только к хищничеству. На довольно крупной раковине рапаны может формироваться специфический комплекс организмов-эпибионтов, рассматриваемый как консорция, ядром которой является R. venosa. Консорция брюхоногого моллюска-вселенца R. venosa является малоизученным и неучтённым звеном бентосных сообществ и экосистемы шельфа Чёрного моря. Для изучения консортного сообщества рапаны были осуществлены сборы в 7 районах северной части Чёрного моря: 1 — Мамайя, Румыния; 2 — северо-западная часть Чёрного моря (СЗ-ЧМ), Крымский сектор; 3 — Севастополь; 4 — Алупка; 5 — Ялта — Алушта; 6 — Карадаг; 7 — Керченский пролив. Сбор рапаны в прибрежной зоне до глубины 15 м проводили тотально с использованием легководолазного оборудования, в более глубоководной зоне (до 40 м) — дночерпателем «Океан-50» с борта НИС «Профессор Водяницкий». Каждый экземпляр помещали в отдельный пластиковый пакет с указанием района, глубины и биотопа. Параллельно со сбором моллюсков проводили визуальные наблюдения и фотофиксацию гидробионтов in situ. Всего проанализировано 890 экземпляров R. venosa. По сравнению с предыдущими исследованиями существенно расширен таксономический список консортных моллюсков R. venosa, относящихся к трём классам: Polyplacophora (Loricata), Bivalvia, Gastropoda. В этой части работы рассмотрены Polyplacophora, представленные в консорции 3 видами 2 родов 2 семейств, и Bivalvia — 7 видами 7 родов 5 семейств. Установлено, что моллюски являются важным компонентом консорции рапаны. На скальной рапане хитоны встречаются с частотой до 25 %, на песчаной рапане — до 10 %, в целом в консорции рапаны — около 12 %. Более 80 % численности всех хитонов на рапане приходится на Lepidochitona cinerea. Встречаемость бивальвий в большинстве обследованных районов составляет 50–75 %. Площадь покрытия раковины рапаны двустворками обычно составляет 2–20 %, иногда достигая 85 %. Наиболее распространённым видом бивальвий и моллюсков в целом в консорции черноморской рапаны является Mytilaster lineatus. Большинство Bivalvia имеют тесную связь с ядром консорции, прикрепляясь биссусом к поверхности раковины рапаны, а на самых ранних стадиях — и к поверхности эпифитов. Представители Polyplacophora приурочены преимущественно к скальной форме рапаны, а Bivalvia представлены большим количеством видов в консорции рапаны рыхлых грунтов, чем скальных (6 против 3 видов соответственно). Различия в таксономическом составе эпибионтов и проценте покрытия раковины двух экоформ R. venosa преимущественно определяются спецификой динамического воздействия водной массы в зонах развития скальных и рыхлых грунтов.

Both the anaerobic and the aerobic oxidation of methane are fundamental microbial processes with far reaching influences on global element cycles and, consequently, on the physico-chemical nature of the hydro- and atmosphere. These processes lead to substantial removal of the radiatively active gas methane and are powerful factors in controlling the composition of ecosystems and the distribution of authigenic deposits at methane-rich sites. For instance, the sulfate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) mediated by methanotrophic Archaea and sulfate-reducing Bacteria yields hydrogen sulfide and bicarbonate ions, which subsequently react with ions derived from pore waters and the water column to form sulfidic and carbonaceous minerals. The aerobic oxidation of methane, performed by obligate aerobic Bacteria particularly effective at oxic-anoxic boundaries, leads to the generation of carbon dioxide, which is a less radiative gas than methane but has higher residence times in the atmosphere.The geochemical characteristics of the contemporary Black Sea promote processes associated with the conversion of methane and are considered to resemble those of the Paleo/Mesoproterozoic global ocean. Geochemical and molecular microbiological considerations support the idea that the microbes involved in the AOM emerged before the Archaean – Proterozoic transition, and became more important in the Paleoproterozoic, when oceanic deep waters are thought to contain high amounts of methane and adequate amounts of sulfate. With the rise of atmospheric oxygen in the Paleo/Mesoproterozoic, substantial parts of the global ocean became oxygenated, which promoted the spreading of aerobic methanotrophs. Since then, biogeochemical remnants, like fossil seep deposits or lipid biomarkers strongly depleted in 13C, demonstrate the relevance of methanotrophy in Earth history.Methane in the contemporary Black Sea is mainly sourced from sedimentary gas reservoirs at emission sites like cold seeps and mud volcanoes. Detailed seismic and hydroacoustic investigations at deep-water cold seep areas on the Ukrainian shelf (northwestern Black Sea), the continental slope off Georgia (southeastern Black Sea) and at mud volcanoes located in the Sorokin Trough (northern Black Sea) provided insights into their subsurface structures, fluid migration pathways, and extents of gas plumes in the water column. This review considers recent studies on sources and migration pathways of methane, and its fate in the sediments in the water column of the Black Sea with special emphasis on the anaerobic and aerobic microbial methane consumption.KeywordsAuthigenic CarbonateCold SeepAnaerobic Methane OxidationEuxinic WaterSorokin TroughThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

There are two porpoise stocks in the northern Black Sea: the north-western (Odessa Gulf) and northeastern (Crimean and Caucasian waters); in addition, another stock is in the Sea of Azov. The Azov porpoises are distinct in their body size and biology. This research was conducted on the skulls of stranded sexually mature porpoises from the north-eastern Black Sea, north-western Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In the north-eastern Black Sea samples, both present-day and old-time, the sexual dimorphism of the skull size was not significant, whereas in the Sea of Azov the females were significantly larger than males. The Azov skulls were strongly different from those from the Black Sea: they were larger, proportionally wider and had the wider rostra; also, there was no significant chronological variation within the Black Sea. The Azov and Black Sea samples were classified with the 100 % success with four variables. The northwestern Black Sea skulls were somewhat intermediate in their characteristics between the Azov and northeastern Black Sea samples, but they were classify ed together with other Black Sea specimens. The difference between the Azov and Black Sea skulls was greater than between many North Atlantic populations, despite the extreme geographical proximity of the two stocks. The low variation within the Black Sea supports the earlier conclusions on the lack of genetic variation: all the Black Sea stocks are expected to be genetically similar sub-populations, whereas the Azov and Marmara stocks possibly represent the genetically distant populations. The porpoises from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov equally show the traits which characterize the subspecies Phocoena phocoena relicta, but the Black Sea porpoises appear to be more paedomorphic in terms of ontogenetic trajectories.

Risk assessment of some heavy metals in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and veined rapa whelks (Rapana venosa) for human health

Abstract. The study aim was to determine the impact of storage period on veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) meat, either chilled for 6 days or frozen for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months on its technological traits, chemical composition and fatty acid profile. Rapa whelks were collected by divers in June 2021 from the Black Sea, one nautical mile off the Bulgarian coast. A total of 60 kg of rapa whelks were collected from a depth of 10-15 m. The water holding capacity, cooking and roasting losses, meat proximate composition and fatty acid profile were analysed in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University. Statistically significantly (P<0.05) lower water holding capacity of veined rapa whelk meat was observed after being stored chilled at 0-4°C for 6 days, or frozen at -18°C for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months compared to fresh meat. Cooking and roasting losses of meat did not change after 6 days of cold storage as well as after 3, 6 and 9 months of frozen storage, but worsened significantly after 12 months of storage at -18°C, which should be taken into account during storage and technological treatments of rapa whelks. The moisture, protein, lipid, ash and fatty acids content of rapa whelk meat remained unchanged during chilled and frozen storage. PUFA/SFA ratios indicated that fresh, cold-stored for 6 days and frozen for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months rapa whelks were an excellent source of PUFA and n-3 for humans.

European anchovy is most abundant in the Azov and Black Sea Basin ichthyocenosis and plays leading role in the marine fisheries. There are two subspecies of the European anchovy in the Black Sea: the Black Sea anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus Aleksandrov and the Azov anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus maeoticus Pusanov. Wintering areas of both subspecies (stocks) are located in the Black Sea. Basing on the more than 30-years research of anchovy, this chapter summarizes data on catches, catch per unit effort, population parameters, spatial distribution patterns, abundance, and scientific survey results separately for two stocks. Direct methods of stock assessment, based on trawl, lampara and hydroacoustic surveys data, have been applied. Authors recommend to the Black Sea countries authorities to build their anchovy fishery-regulating decisions mainly on the hydroacoustic surveys' results. A major impact of invasive Atlantic ctenophores Mnemiopsis leidyi and Beroe ovata on anchovy populations is revealed.

The presence of the egg capsules of Rapa whelk, Rapana venosa, in the stomachs of sharpsnout seabream was observed for the first time. Samples were collected on August, 2017 in the Artvin, Hopa region (Black sea of Turkey). Rapa whelk is one of the successful invasive species in the world. Due to high predation pressure on native mussels by invasive whelk in the Black Sea, their populations decreased. Female rapa whelks lay high amount of egg capsules on hard substratum (stones, mussels, whelks etc) during summer. The sharpsnout seabream seems to be an important predator on egg capsules of Rapa whelk due to both species shared same habitat in summer months.

The rapa whelk, Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846), known also as the veined rapa whelk or the Asian rapa whelk, settled in the Black Sea in 1940 and within the past 30 years has become an important economic contribution to local fishers along the coastline. This study examines the annual change in biomass, population structure, and interaction of the species with the ecosystem of rapa whelk in the mid-southern Black Sea. The samples were collected monthly in 2011 and 2012 by hydraulic dredge at different sites. Stock biomass was estimated at five different subregions and along four depth contours. In 2012 the biomass of rapa whelk increased significantly in in all subregions compared with the previous year sampling. Food availability is the main factor for species distribution, and in parallel, striped Venus clams, Chamelea gallina (Linnaeus, 1758), the main food source for rapa whelks, was significantly concentrated in the study area. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters (VBGP) were expressed as Lt = 121.78(1 − e−0.246(t + 0.33)). As a fisheries management point, our results highlight the overpopulation of rapa whelk in the region.

A moving target: Achieving good environmental status and social justice in the case of an alien species, Rapa whelk in the Black Sea

Based on an experiment carried out in the north-western Black Sea (Snake Island), the feeding behavior of the Rapa whelk (Rapana venosa Valenciennes, 1846) was analyzed in relation to its size (N = 58; shell height: 30–90 mm). Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) were placed in experimental cages with R. venosa to be used as food. It was found that the size of the prey was determined by the size of the predator. The mussels with a shell length of 20−40 mm were most affected by R. venosa. It was determined that the predator’s contribution to the deposition of mussel shells in the bottom sediments is also associated with its size. Feeding intensity varies from 41 mg to 99 mg of the total mass of mussels per 1 g of the total mass of R. venosa per day, depending on the size of the predator. The daily consumption of mussel soft tissue varied from 0.189 g ind.−1 per day−1 in small R. venosa specimens to 0.917 g ind.−1 per day−1 in large predators. Regression equations were obtained between the length and mass of the mussels consumed (total mass, soft tissue mass and shell mass) and the shell height of the predator.

The veined rapa whelk is one of the most important invasive species in the Black Sea ecosystem since the 1940s. Following its introduction to the Black Sea, it destroyed most of the bivalve populations, mainly the Mediterranean mussel and oysters. However, the veined rapa whelk has commercial importance for the Black Sea fisheries as an alternative product. In this study, we aimed to determine some population parameters of the veined rapa whelk based on indirect ageing through length–frequency data by using the Bhattacharya method. We collected 1704 specimens by dredging along the coasts of Samsun Province in the Central Black Sea in 2011 from June to November. The age of the population varied from 0 to 6. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated as L∞ = 112.35 mm, k = 0.310, t0 = −0.486 and W∞ = 243.94 g. Mean length and weight, length–weight relationship, mortality and exploitation rates were derived as L = 56.80 ± 0.36 mm, W = 45.67 ± 0.89 g, W = 0.0006 L2.719, Z = 0.96, M = 0.57, F = 0.39 and E = 0.40, respectively.

In this present work, the amounts of toxic elements were determined in the soft tissues of mollusks (Mytilus galloprovincialis and Rapana venosa) collected from Igneada shores of the Black Sea where...

In a single methodological basis, based on complex lithologic and stratigraphic and petrophysical studies, logging interpretation, beds correlation, were selected and indexed 45 productive horizons of Cenozoic sediments at Black and Azov seas shelf (Ukrainian sector): МU-1, МU-2, МU-3, МU-4, МU-5, МU-6, МU-7, МM-1, МM-2, МL-1, МL-2, МL-3, МL-4, МL-5 and МL-6 in Miocene sediments; ОU-1, ОU-2, ОU-3, ОU-4, ОU-5, ОL-1, ОL-2, ОL-3, ОL-4, ОL-5, ОL-6, ОL-7, ОL-8, ОL-9, ОL-10 and ОL-11 – Oligocen; ЕU-1, ЕU-2, ЕM-1, ЕM-2, ЕM-3, ЕM-4, ЕM-5, ЕL-1, ЕL-2 and ЕL-3 – Eocene, PU-1, PL-1, PL-2 and PL-3 – Paleocene. The name of each productive horizon is the sum of the abbreviations of names of department and sub-department, which is the horizon, and the numeral indicating its serial number.Single scheme of indexing and correlation was composed. Key words: productive horizon, Cenozoic sediments, Ukrainian waters of the Black and Azov Seas References Atlas of oil and gas in Ukraine. V.VI. South oil and gas region. 1998. Lviv. UNGA. 224 p. (in Ukrainian). Boboshko A.V., Vakarchuk G.I., Vinnichenko L.G. et al.1974. The scheme of correlation and unified synonymy oil and gas horizons of the Lower Carboniferous of the Dnieper-Donets basin (guidelines). Kharkiv. 52 p. Vakarchuk G.I., Vinnichenko L.G., Kononenko L.P. 1990. The new scheme of indexing and correlation of the productive horizons of the Lower Carboniferous of the Dnieper-Donets basin. Geological Journal. #6. S. 109-115. Stratigraphic Code of Ukraine. 2012. Resp. editor P.F. Gozhyk. 66 p. Gozhik P.F. 2006. Oil-gas facilities in Ukraine. Scientific and practical basis for finding hydrocarbons in the Azov Sea. Kyiv. EKMO. 340 p. (in Ukrainian). Gozhik P.F. 2007. Oil-gas facilities in Ukraine. Scientific and practical basis for finding hydrocarbons in the northwestern Black Sea shelf. Kyiv. ЕКМО. 231 p. (in Ukrainian). State balance of mineral reserves Ukraine. 2012. Кiev, SSPE Geoinform Ukrainin, 3284 p. (in Ukrainian). Oil and gas potential of the northwestern Black Sea. 1995. Series «Oil-gas potencial water area of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov». V.2. Kyiv. Ukrainian Oil-gas institute. 250 p. (in Ukrainian). Oil and gas potential of the Azov Sea 1995. Series «Oil-gas potencial water area of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov». V 1. Kyiv. Ukrainian Oil-gas institute. 166 p. (in Ukrainian). Oil and gas potential Kerch-Taman Black Sea shelf, continental slope and deep-sea depression Black Sea. 1996. Series «Oil-gas potencial water area of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov». V.2. Kyiv. Ukrainian Oil-gas institute. 186 p. (in Russian). Ukraine's oil and gas province. 1981. Kyiv. Naukova dumka, 172 p. (in Russian). Forecast oil and gas exploration in the south of the USSR and adjacent waters. 1981. Ed. V.V. Glushko and S.P. Maximov. Moscov. Nedra. 240 p. (in Russian). Murasta W.А., Baschkirov G.L., Karpenko О.М. 2012. On the issue of allocation of productive horizons in the Paleogene and Neogene sediments Ukrainian shelf of the Black and Azov Seas. Problems of Oil and Gas Industry. Proceedings of SE Naukanaftogaz NAK Naftogaz Ukraine. Kyiv.Vol. 10. P. 97-104 (in Ukrainian). Creation of unified directory breakdowns productive horizons Cenozoic sediments within the areas of the Black and Azov seas based on a single indexing and correlating. 2011. Report on implementation of the provision of geological and thematic work. Responsibility G.L. Bashkirov and I.I. Ishchenko. SE Naukanaftogaz. Vischneve, №16/200. Book 1,2. 503 p. (in Ukrainian). Handbook of Petroleum Geology. 1984. Ed. N.А. Yeremenko. М. Nedra. P. 480. (in Russian). Hanin А.А. 1969. Reservoir rocks of oil and gas and their study. M.: Nedra. 366 p. (in Russian).

Arbitration — Jurisdiction — Dispute concerning coastal State rights in Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait — Ukraine instituting proceedings against Russian Federation under Annex VII of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 — Ukraine alleging unauthorized activities of Russian Federation violating its rights under Convention — Whether Tribunal having jurisdiction — Basis of Tribunal’s jurisdiction — Whether Tribunal having jurisdiction to rule on sovereignty over Crimea — Legal status of Crimea — Objection that Tribunal having no jurisdiction over Ukraine’s claims concerning activities in Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait — Whether objection possessing exclusively preliminary character — Objection that Tribunal having no jurisdiction in light of Parties’ declarations under Article 298(1) of Convention — Objection that Tribunal having no jurisdiction over fisheries claims in light of Article 297(3)(a) of Convention — Objection that Tribunal having no jurisdiction over 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— Russian Federation claiming sovereignty over Crimea after March 2014 — Opposing views of Parties on sovereignty over Crimea — Question as to whether Russian Federation or Ukraine having sovereignty over Crimea — Whether prerequisite for decision of Tribunal on Ukraine’s claims under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 — Whether Russian Federation or Ukraine coastal State for purposes 2 of Convention — Whether sovereignty dispute over Crimea existing vel non — Whether ancillary to maritime dispute brought by Ukraine — Russian Federation’s claim that legal status of Crimea altered — Whether Russian Federation’s claim of sovereignty admissible — Principle of non-recognition — Article 41 of International Law Commission’s Articles on State Responsibility — United Nations General Assembly resolutions — Principles of good faith and estoppel — Whether Tribunal having jurisdiction over Ukraine’s sovereignty claim International organizations — United Nations — General Assembly — Resolutions — Legal effect and meaning — Interpretation — Relevance — Customary international law — Factual and legal determinations made in resolutions — Effect and weight — Content, conditions and context of adoption of resolutions — Whether Tribunal having power to interpret texts of international organizations — Whether recognizing objective fact of existence of dispute over Crimea contravening resolutions — Whether Tribunal having jurisdiction over claims of sovereignty over Crimea Sea — Maritime zones — Entitlements — Exclusive economic zone — Entitlements to maritime zones generated by Crimean coast — Overlapping entitlements — Whether determination possible — Jurisdiction of Tribunal to make determination in respect of dispute or on coastal State — Question of sovereignty over Crimea — Jurisdiction of Tribunal Treaties — Application — United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 — Coastal State rights — Crimean peninsula — Ukraine instituting proceedings under Annex VII to Convention — Scope of Convention — Dispute concerning coastal State rights in Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait — Claims under Convention — Ukraine claiming that Russian Federation violating its rights under Convention — Determination of coastal State necessary for purposes of Convention — Question as to whether Ukraine or Russian Federation having sovereignty over Crimea — Whether determination prerequisite for determining significant part of Ukraine’s claims — Whether Tribunal having jurisdiction over Ukraine’s sovereignty claim — Jurisdiction of Tribunal Treaties — United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 — Scope — Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait — Status — Parties 3 agreeing internal waters of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics prior to dissolution — Disagreement as to status thereafter — Legal regime — Historic title — Whether questions for merits phase — Whether outside scope of Convention if underlying events occurring in internal waters — Whether issue regulated by Convention — Whether pertaining to interpretation and application of Convention — Whether Tribunal having jurisdiction over Ukraine’s claims concerning activities in the Sea of Azov and in the Kerch Strait — Whether objection of Russian Federation possessing exclusively preliminary character Treaties — Interpretation — State Border Treaty, Article 5 — Azov/Kerch Cooperation Treaty, Article 1 — Textual interpretation — Context — Negotiating history — Whether Article 4 of Azov/Kerch Cooperation Treaty excluding jurisdiction of Tribunal — Whether Articles 1 and 5 dispute settlement clauses within meaning of Article 281 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 — Whether Tribunal having jurisdiction over dispute