Amurskii Bay Research Articles

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution of the Peter the Great Bay (North-West Pacific Region) Using Brown Algae

According to the content of heavy metals Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni in brown algae Sargassum miyabei from the Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan, geochemical factors were calculated. The algae geochemical anomaly index (IGA) characterizes the degree of excess of the background concentrations of metals. The heavy metal pollution factor (Fp) is used to estimate the degree of pollution of the marine environment with heavy metals. The Peter the Great Bay has a low level of heavy metal pollution, but some parts of second-order bays, such as Amurskii Bay, Ussuriiskii Bay and Vostok Bay, have a moderate degree of pollution. The high pollution level was registed on the western coast of the Ussuriiskii Bay near the Vladivostok city landfill. Thirty percent of sampling stations were noted to have higher threshold levels of metals in the algae. These areas need to be monitored to assess their environmental status and measures should be applied to reduce the impact on the environment.

The effect of river runoff and phytoplankton production on the seasonal variation of the chemical composition of coastal waters of the Amursky Bay, Sea of Japan

The factors that control the seasonal variability of the concentration of suspended matter, nutrients, dissolved forms of metals and phytoplankton biomass in coastal waters of the eastern part of the Amurskii Bay were determined. It was shown that the runoff of the Razdolnaya River determined the seasonal variability in suspended matter content, values of the chemical oxygen demand (COD), silicates, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Ni significantly affected the concentration of nitrates. The advection of sea water is the main source of phosphates and dissolved forms of Zn and Cd. In the autumn and winter seasons, the gradual decrease in the concentration of silicates and phosphates was related to phytoplankton activity. In the spring and summer seasons, the growth of phytoplankton determined the variability of the phosphate and nitrate contents and compensated for the effect of the Razdolnaya River runoff. It is concluded that the phytoplankton biomass, rather than variations in riverine flow, caused the long-term variability of the nitrate and phosphate concentrations in the coastal waters of the Amurskii Bay.

Influence of anthropogenic pollution on ostracod assemblages of Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan

The species composition and distribution of ostracods were investigated at two sites with different pollution levels on the eastern coast of Amurskii Bay within the limits of Vladivostok City. A total of 41 species were found. In all, thirty-eight species (28 of them alive) were found at the first site between Krasnyi and Groznyi capes. Another twenty-seven species were found at a depth of 1.5–3 m in the phytal zone with a diversity of microbiotopes. As the bottom became increasingly silty and the depth increased, the number of species decreased. A total of 25 species (only 15 of them alive) were found at the mouth of the Vtoraya Rechka River, which is heavily polluted by municipal and industrial sewage discharge. No valves of ostracods were found in surface sediments on silts at a depth down to 5.5m. At 4 m, only 2 species were found alive on stones overgrown with Saccharina japonica. At 500 m from a sewage discharge site, few ostracod valves were found that seemed to have died recently. At a distance of over 1 km, an ostracod assemblage typical of the silty substrates of Amurskii Bay was found below a 7 m depth (21 species, 12 of them alive).

Species composition and seasonal dynamics of the population density and biomass of the genus Pyramimonas (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 Nonrad, 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.

Potentially toxic diatomsPseudo-nitzschia fraudulenta andP. calliantha from russian waters of East/Japan Sea and Sea of Okhotsk

Potentially toxic diatomsPseudo- nitzschia calliantha andP. fraudulenta were found in bottle samples of phytoplankton collected in Amurskii Bay (East/Japan Sea) and in the coastal waters of Sakhalin Island (East/Japan Sea and Sea of Okhotsk) in different seasons during 2002-2006. The mass development of these species occurred in October and November 2002 at water temperatures of 6-16°C and salinities of 28.8-33.5 PSU. The highest concentrations ofP. calliantha andP. fraudulenta were about 2x105 cells L1 and 1.5x105 cells L-1, respectively.P . fraudulenta was found for the first time in the Russian waters of the East/Japan Sea. Morphological descriptions of these species based on observation with light and electron microscopy and information on their ecology are presented. Data on the geographical distribution of these species are supplemented.

Seasonal variations of biotransformation and antioxidant parameters in liver of the smooth flounder Liopsetta pinnifasciata from Amursky Bay (Sea of Japan)

This study examines the seasonal dynamics of the activity of some antioxidant enzymes, the biotransformation enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, and levels of reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde in the liver of the flounder Liopsetta pinnifasciata from Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan. The individual variability of biomarkers was fairly low. Significant sex differences were only found for superoxide dismutase.

Spatial heterogeneity and long-term changes in bivalveAnadara broughtoni population: influence of river run-off and fishery

A comparison was made of population of the economically important cockleAnadara (=Scapharca)broughtoni (Bivalvia, Arcidae) inhabiting different areas of the Razdolnaya River estuary at the head of Amurskii Bay (Peter the Great Gulf, East Sea). Also, changes in cockle population density and structure, as well as in cockle growth rates during the last 20 years were studied. In all years of investigation, the morphometrical parameters and growth rates of cockles were smaller at the sites located close to the River mouth than farther down-estuary. The differences can be attributed to higher concentration of suspended particulate matter, decreased salinity and water temperature, as well as a longer exposure to these unfavorable environmental factors at sites located close to the River mouth, compared to farther sites. For two decades, cockle population density had decreased by almost 30 times at some sites in the River estuary. The main reason for this population decline is commercial over-fishing of the cockle. Besides, for the last 20 years, linear parameters of the cockles in the population decreased approximately by 30% and weight parameters, almost two times. Cockle growth rates also decreased for this period. Evidently, these facts are due to the damaging effect of dredging.

The state of the interrenal gland in plaices Pleuronectes pinnifasciatus and P. obscurus from two stations in Amurskii Bay (Sea of Japan)

The state of the interrenal gland was studied in plaices Pleuronectes pinnifasciatus and P. obscurus from two stations in Amurskii Bay (Sea of Japan, coastal zone of the city of Vladivostok), differing in the level and character of anthropogenic pollution. The individuals captured at the station with high technogenic pollution had black greasy spots on the belly and a specific odor. Despite these facts, the characteristics used to evaluate stress activation of the interrenal tissue (number of cells per unit area of glandular epithelium and the volume of their nuclei), were similar in fishes from both stations.

Seasonal Dynamics of Pelagic Larvae and Settling of the Fouling Organisms in Conditions of Thermal Pollution

Year-round comprehensive study of fouling of the cooling system of the Vladivostok Heat Power Plant (VTETs-2) was carried out. The seasonal dynamics of pelagic larvae, their settling, and succession of fouling communities on test plates were analyzed in the intake scoop (Ussuriiskii Bay) and in Zolotoi Rog Bay (Amurskii Bay), which are subjected to thermal pollution by dump waters of VTETs-2. It was shown that the barnacles Balanus crenatus, B. improvisus, and B. amphitrite; bivalves Mytilus trossulus and Crassostrea gigas; polychaetes Polydora limicola and Hydroides ezoensis; and ascidians Molgula manhattensis and Diplosoma mitsukurii were background species in the plate fouling. A high correlation between the seasonal dynamics of larval plankton and the settling of spat was recorded only in some species. The total larval density in Zolotoi Rog Bay, despite the critical level of its pollution, more than 4 times exceeded that of the relatively clean Ussuriiskii Bay. The number of recorded species on the test plates was 2 times higher in Ussuriiskii Bay than in Zolotoi Rog Bay; however, the biomass and population density of settled spat of the dominant forms was several times lower in Ussuriiskii Bay. Thanks to thermal pollution, Zolotoi Rog Bay is an intermediate step for the introduction and acclimation of tropical species, such as B. amphitrite and M. manhattensis, brought by long-distance vessels. Measures aimed at the prevention of intensive settling of mytilids in the cooling system of VTETs-2 are suggested.

The Meroplankton of Amurskii Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan)

The composition and seasonal dynamics of meroplankton in Amurskii Bay (Sea of Japan) were studied for the first time. The total survey period exceeded two years. The larvae of demersal invertebrates—members of 69 taxa of various ranks—were found, among which, Bivalvia and Polychaeta were the most diverse. In early spring, the larvae of the polychaete Harmothoe imbricata (family Polynoidae) predominated; in late spring and early summer, Littorinidae (Gastropoda) larvae prevailed; in summer, bivalve larvae were most abundant; and in autumn, the meroplankton was dominated by larvae of the cirripede Balanus rostratus (Balanidae) and the polychaetes Polydora aff. ciliata and Dipolydora sp. (D.aff. concharum?) (Spionidae). In the survey period, the proportion of meroplankton in the average annual numbers of zooplankton varied between 22 and 31% reaching 82% during periods of the maximum abundance of the dominant species.

Composition, Seasonal Dynamics, and Long-Term Fluctuations in the Density of Pelagic Polychaetes in Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan

This is the first survey of the composition and seasonal density dynamics of the pelagic polychaete larvae in Amurskii Bay. This is a summary of the results of two years of observations (1996–1998). The larvae of 14 polychaete families have been recorded. The greatest number of species have been found in the family Spionidae. The most common were the larvae of Harmothoe imbricata (family Polynoidae) and Paraprionospio sp. (family Spionidae). The larvae of polychaetes have been found in plankton throughout the year and have two density peaks. The first peak was due to the spawning of H. imbricata; the second one was provided by representatives of several species of the family Spionidae, mostly Paraprionospio sp., Polydora ciliata, and P. caeca.

The First Finding of Pseudo-nitzschia americana (Bacillariophyta) in Russian Seas

The diatom Pseudo-nitzschia americana (Hasle) Fryxell was found in bathometric phytoplankton samples collected in Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan, and in coastal areas of Sakhalin Island, Sea of Okhotsk, in different seasons from 1994 to 2000. This is the first finding of this species in Russian seas. A morphological description is provided, including data from light and electronic microscopy; information on the ecology and distribution of the species is corrected and supplemented.

Heavy Metals in the Tissues of Commercially Important Fish of Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan

The concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cadmium, and mercury in tissues and organs of Pacific herring, Far Eastern navaga, and spotted flounder from Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan, were determined using an atom-absorption method. The distribution of these elements has been studied in organisms of the fish. The greatest concentration of iron, copper, cadmium, and mercury is found in the liver of the fish, manganese is mostly accumulated in the bone tissue, and zinc is found in the skin. Some specific features of metal accumulation in the fish of Amurskii Bay have been revealed. For example, the concentration of iron in the liver of herring and flounder significantly increased the mean concentration known from other areas. A sanitary–hygienic evaluation is provided for the recent levels of metal concentrations in these three species of commercially important fish.

Morphology and Biology of the Diatom Alga Atteya longicornis from the Sea of Japan

When studying microalgae in the plankton of Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan, we found solitary cells and chains of the diatom alga Atteya longicornis. This is the first record of this species in Russian seas. The results of studies on this species in both the natural environment and in culture allow us to present a detailed morphological description compiled using data of both light and electron microscopy and to supplement the information about the biology and ecology of this species.

Morphology and Ecology of the Species of the Genus Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyta) from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Phytoplankton studies in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) revealed three species of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia H. Perag. in H. et M. Peragallo, namely, P. pungens (Grun. ex Cl.) Hasle; P. multiseries (Grun.) Hasle, and P. pseudodelicatissima Hasle. Mass blooms of P. pungens and P. multiseries were registered in Amurskii Bay in June 1992. The maximum density (11 million cell/liter) was registered at the water surface after heavy rainfall. A short-term outburst of the density of P. pseudodelicatissima (2.7 million cells/liter) was registered in Amurskii Bay in November 1997. We present morphological descriptions of all the species from the results of light and electron microscopy and discuss possible reasons favoring their mass development in Peter the Great Bay.

Assessment of the State of Flounders from Sivuch'ya Bight (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) Based on Histopathological Parameters

The liver and gills of five flounder species (Pleuronectes obscurus, P. punctatissimus, P. yokahamae, P. herzensteini, and Platichthys stellatus) from Sivuch'ya Bight were histologically studied. Specimens of all species were characterized by a wide spectrum of histomorphological changes. The proportions of most specific pathologies in P. obscurusfrom Sivuch'ya Bight were estimated. The pathologies comprised two major groups: those of the gills (edema and fusion of the respiratory lamellae; lifting and hyperplasia of the respiratory epithelium; vacuolization of the epithelium cells; and the presence of clavate lamellae, aneurysmal areas, and parasites) and those of the liver (vacuolization of the hepatocytes, aneurysms, necrosis of the parenchyma tissue, pathologies of the hepatocyte nuclei, pigment accumulation, and an increase in the number and size of melanomacrophage centers). The estimated proportions of pathological changes were compared with those observed in P. obscurusspecimens from the most contaminated area of Amurskii Bay. In both Sivuch'ya Bight and Amurskii Bay, the proportion of fish with various pathologies was high. The comparison of pathological changes in the gills and liver of P. obscurusand P. stellatusfrom Sivuch'ya Bight showed that, in terms of many parameters, the former species is more sensitive to pollution of the marine environment than the latter. Pathomorphological changes in the organs of the flounders studied are apparently caused by chronic pollutant action and suggest that the fish of both areas are in a damaged state.

Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Soft Tissues of the Gastropod Nucella heyseanain the Vicinity of Vladivostok and in the Vostok Bay Reserve

A survey was made of 168 specimens of the gastropod mollusk Nucella heyseanafrom 5 samples collected in Amurskii Bay and Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay and the Sea of Japan). The variability of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Fe, and Mn contents in gastropod soft tissues was analyzed. The statistic concentrations of the six metals differed significantly among the samples; they were sometimes taken at a distance of a mere several tens of meters apart. N. heyseanacollected near Vladivostok generally had higher concentrations of heavy metals; however, the amount of Zn in the specimens of one sample from the Vostok Bay Reserve was 400 μg/g, which is two times greater than that of mollusks from the urbanized zone. The canonical and discriminant analyses and the analysis of the variance indicate that the variation in heavy metal concentration within groups of mollusks (within bays) is comparable in magnitude with the variation among the groups.

Long-Term Changes in the Gonad Condition of the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus intermediusfrom Alekseev Bight (Amurskii Bay) under Polluted Conditions

The gonad condition of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermediuscollected in August 1997 at two stations in Peter the Great Bay was examined. One of the stations was located in a polluted area (Alekseev Bight, Popov Island) and the other, in a relatively clean area (the Verkhovskii Islands). The results were compared with analogous data for 1984, 1985, and 1989. In 1997, the gonad condition of sea urchins inhabiting the two areas differed significantly. The mean value of the gonad index (GI) for sea urchins from Alekseev Bight was less than half and the maturity index was about twice that of sea urchins from the Verkhovskii Islands. The GI of sea urchins from Alekseev Bight decreased by a factor of 1.5 between 1984 and 1997. Pronounced histopathological changes were found in sea urchin gonads at this station: granular and hydropic dystrophy of oocytes, resorption and a sharp decrease in the number of gametes (in about 20% of the sea urchins, hardly any gametes were found in the gonads), changes in the morphology of accessory cells (hypertrophy, atrophy, and necrosis), and accumulation of lipofuscin in the cytoplasm of accessory cells and oocytes, in the hemal sinuses and mesentery. The suppressed gonad condition of the sea urchin S. intermediusin Alekseev Bight may be a consequence of the unfavorable environmental situation that formed in the bight in the 1980s–1990s. The main negative factor is anthropogenic pollution of Amurskii Bay.

Histomorphological alterations in organs of the plaicePleuronectes obscurus from a polluted part of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

This paper describes the results of a histological study of the internal organs of the plaicePleuronectes obscurus from a polluted part of Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan. A variety of histomorphological alterations were found in the gills and liver, while the kidney and spleen were affected to a lesser degree. The most frequent lesions in gills were edemas of gill lamellae, epithelial detachments, fusions of the secondary lamellae, hypertrophies and hyperplasias of respiratory cells, pigment accumulations, the presence of parasites, increased quantities of mucous cells, lymphocyte infiltrations, and disturbances of blood circulation. Characteristic morphological changes in the liver were lipid and hydropic dystrophy, pigment accumulation, and the presence of regenerative and necrotic foci. Telangiectasia, globate filaments, and xenomas were found in the gills ofP. obscurus for the first time. These morphological alterations appear to be a result of the chronic effect of pollution in Amurskii Bay.

Seasonal dynamics of the population density of meiobenthos in Amurskii Bay, Sea of Japan

Seasonal dynamics of population densities and the qualitative composition of meiobenthos were studied in a strait between Popova and Reineke islands in Amurskii Bay (Sea of Japan). Two peaks of population density were revealed: a spring-summer peak and an autumn peak. No correlation was found between the depth, qualitative characteristics of the ground, and population density of meiobenthos.