On a method of determination of chlorophyll in cells of algae collected on a membrane filter. [Translation from: Trudy Instituta Biologii Vnutrennykh Vodnany 11(14), 198-202, 1966.]

The original method, proposed by Yentsch (1957), of determination of chlorophyll directly in the cells, attracts attention by its simplicity. In order to measure the content of chlorophyll by this method, a determined volume of suspension of algae is filtered through a membrane filter. The latter is dried a little, clarified by immersion oil, clamped between two glasses, and spectrophotometrized. Extinction is read off at , wavelengths equal to 670 millimicrons (around the maximum absorption of chlorophyll a in the cell) and 750 millimicrons (correction for non- specific absorption and dispersion of light by particles of the preparation). The method of Yentsch was employed by the authors for determination of chlorophyll-a in samples of phytoplankton. They conclude that in spite of the simplicity and convenience of determination the method must be applied sufficiently carefully. It is more suitable for analysis of cultures of algae, where, non-specific absorption of light is insignificant.

On the methods of determining size/weight characteristics of food organisms of fish. (Determination of the length of Copepoda in larval stages by egg-laying females of the free living freshwater Copepoda). [Translation from: Voprosy Ikhtiologii 14, 182-194, 1960. ]

As is known, copepods play an important role in the nutrition of fish. Therefore with a view to facilitating research on the study of the quantitative side of feeding, there have recently appeared a considerable number of papers devoted to the development of methods for determining the wet. weight of these crustaceans. For the further facilitating of research in the nutrition of fish it would be of great interest to clarify the problem, is there not some kind of rule in the growth of the crustaceans during metamorphosis, and if there is such a rule is it not possible, to determine the length of the larvae at each stage, not by measuring them, but by using the formulae derived on the basis of these rules. This article examines the growth curves of different species of freshwater Copepoda, obtained on the basis of experimental observations in cultures or by way of measurement of mass material at all stages of development in samples from water-bodies. The authors study in particular the ratio of the mean diameter of the eggs to the mean length of the egg-bearing females.

Determination of dissolved oxygen in water with leukoberbelin-blue I. A quick Winkler method. [Translation from: Z.analyt.Chem. 262 97-99, 1972.]

The reaction of Mn(II) with water-dissolved oxygen, to a higher manganese hydroxide in an alkaline medium, as with the longstanding classic Winkler method, is the first step in the method described here. The assumption for faultless results by the conventional and modified Winkler method is clean water, which contains no organic substances by Mn(III) or Mn(IV). In many cases, however, eg. in river and lake-water tests, it can be seen with the naked eye that after some time the originally brown-coloured precipitate of manganese hydroxide becomes more and more colourless. Oxygen content was analysed in the water samples and evaluated by raising the amount of the leuko-base and giving the corresponding dilution of the colouring matter solution formed still higher oxygen contents can be measured.

Determination of the activity of nitrifying bacteria in surface waters by a modified BOD-test. [Translation from: Zentbl.Bakt.Parasitkde 156(1) 414-421, 1972. ]

A modified method of the Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)test was applied in order to find out the seasonal changing activity of the nitrifying bacteria in surface waters. Samples were taken from the River Elbe near Teufelsbrueck.

For the determination of iron (II) and total iron with 2,2'-dipyridyl in mineral waters. Reduction of iron (III) with ascorbic acid [Translation from: Zeitschrift fur Analytische Chemie 209 340-341, 1965]

The determination of bi- and trivalent iron in proximity, in mineral waters has gained in significance, on biological and technical grounds. This short paper describes the procedure of the determination of bivalent iron and total iron in a water sample.

Application of algal bioassays in the determination of eutrophic power of waste water (”Conclusions” only) [Translation from: 1g.Sanita pubbl. 31 257-267, 1975]

The best evidence for establishing the level of eutrophy of a water-body is its algal production which makes it possible to identify the type and the intensity of the eutrophication according to the kind and number of algal species present: when the number of algae exceeds half a million per litre then one speaks o an ”algal bloom”. The scope of the present research aims to verify if the alga Selenastrum capricornutum can be used as a test alga under our culture conditions and to determine the eutrophic level of the secondary effluent of a modern plant for the treatment of domestic discharge and to investigate the eventual ”limiting factors”. Finally this paper aims to study the effect on the secondary effluent of tertiary treatment carried out artificially in the laboratory.

Radioautographic method of determination of number of bacteria in water-bodies [Translation from: Informatsionnyi Byulleten Biologiya Vnutrennikh Vod No.26, 65-67, 1975]

The radioautographic method of determination of the number of autotrophic microorganisms was initially suggested for counting methane-oxidizing bacteria. With the help of this method colonies of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria are differentiated even more clearly from heterotrophic. Under laboratory conditions it was shown that colonies grown on membrane filters from a pure culture of thionic bacteria on a nutrient medium with radio- active carbonate, give better prints on film. This method was tested by the authors for determining the number of these bacteria in the meromictic Lake Vae de San Juan during the expedition to Cuba in the summer of 1973. The study showed that that the thionic bacteria are found throughout the pelagial. It proved that the thionic bacteria can be well considered in water-bodies by the radioautographic method.

Determination of water quality in lakes by biological indices

Some problems of evaluation of water quality by biological indices which can be applied in the practice of ecological monitoring on water bodies are considered in this report. Taking into account, that ecological monitoring is the most urgent for large lakes, situated in civilised (urbanised) and (or) agrarian landscapes the corresponding problems will be considered mainly in conformity with large deep lakes of temperate latitudes. The aim is a general evaluation of some of the methods from the point of view of their possible application for monitoring on large water bodies.

Recent progress in the identification and determination of freshwater phytoplankton in the natural environment

The biomass of the phytoplankton and its composition is one of the most important factors in water quality control. Determination of the phytoplankton assemblage is usually done by microscopic analysis (Utermöhl's method). Quantitative estimations of the biovolume, by cell counting and cell size measurements, are time-consuming and normally are not done in routine water quality control. Several alternatives have been tried: computer-based image analysis, spectral fluorescence signatures, flow cytometry and pigment fingerprinting aided by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The latter method is based on the fact that each major algal group of taxa contains a specific carotenoid which can be used for identification and relative quantification of the taxa in the total assemblage. This article gives a brief comparative introduction to the different techniques available and presents some recent results obtained by HPLC-based pigment fingerprinting, applied to three lakes of different trophic status. The results show that this technique yields reliable results from different lake types and is a powerful tool for studying the distribution pattern of the phytoplankton community in relation to water depth. However, some restrictions should be taken into account for the interpretation of routine data.

Determination of population structure and stock composition of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in Russia determined with microsatellites

Variation at 14 microsatellite loci was examined in 34 chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) populations from Russia and evaluated for its use in the determination of population structure and stock composition in simulated mixed-stock fishery samples. The genetic differentiation index (Fst) over all populations and loci was 0.017, and individual locus values ranged from 0.003 to 0.054. Regional population structure was observed, and populations from Primorye, Sakhalin Island, and northeast Russia were the most distinct. Microsatellite variation provided evidence of a more fine-scale population structure than those that had previously been demonstrated with other genetic-based markers. Analysis of simulated mixed-stock samples indicated that accurate and precise regional estimates of stock composition were produced when the microsatellites were used to estimate stock compositions. Microsatellites can be used to determine stock composition in geographically separate Russian coastal chum salmon fisheries and provide a greater resolution of stock composition and population structure than that previously provided with other techniques.

Quantitative determination of the timing of otolith ring formation from marginal increments in four marine teleost species from northwestern Australia

The sectioned otoliths of four fish species from a tropical demersal trawl fishery in Western Australia revealed a series of alternating trans-lucent and opaque zones in reflected light. The translucent zones, referred to as growth rings, were counted to determine fish ages. The width of the opaque zone on the periphery of the otolith section as a proportion of the width of the previous opaque zone (index of completion) was used to determine the periodicity of growth-ring formation. This article describes a method for modeling changes in the index of ring completion over time, from which a parameter for the most probable time of growth-ring formation (with confidence intervals) can be determined. The parameter estimate for the timing of new growth-ring formation for Lethrinus sp. 3 was from mid July to mid September, for Lutjanus vitta from early July to the end of August, for Nemipterus furcosus from mid July to late September, and for Lutjanus sebae from mid July to mid November. The confidence intervals for the timing of formation of growth rings was variable between species, being smallest for L. vitta, and variable between fish of the same species with different numbers of growth rings. The stock assessments of these commercially important species relies on aging information for all the age classes used in the assessment. This study demonstrated that growth rings on sectioned otoliths were laid down annually, irrespective of the number of growth rings, and also demonstrated that the timing of ring formation for these tropical species can be determined quantitatively (with confidence intervals.

Estimated ages of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) from fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data and a comparison of growth parameters

The red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, is an important reef fish in several offshore fisheries along the southeastern United States. We examined samples from North Carolina through southeast Florida from recreational (headboat) and commercial (hook and line) fisheries, as well as samples from a fishery-independent source. Red porgy attain a maximum age of at least 18 years and 733 mm total length. The weight-length relationship is represented by the ln-ln transformed equation: W = 8.85 × 10–6(L)3.06, where W = whole weight in grams, and L = total length in mm. The von Bertalanffy growth equation fitted to the most recent, back-calculated lengths from all the samples is Lt = 644(1 – e –0.15(t + 0.76)). Our study revealed a difference in mean length at age of red porgy from the three sources. Red porgy in fishery-independent collections were smaller at age than specimens examined from fishery-dependent sources. The difference in length-at-age may be related to gear selectivity and have important consequences in the assessment of fish stocks.