(Table 2) Concentration of phytoplankton pigments in Adventfjorden in spring and summer of 1997

The study was carried out from April 30 until July 13 of 1997 in Adventfjorden (Spitsbergen). Formation of a less saline and warmer surface water (~1 m thick) caused by melting of the ice was observed in the fjord during the first days of May. In summer the less saline surface layer was about 3 m thick. Euphotic depth measured under the ice sheet reached 12 m, whereas load of mineral matter brought with riverine discharge in summer (content of total particulate matter in the fjord reached 1.66 kg/m**2) dramatically reduced euphotic zone depth to 0.35 m. By pigment measurement three phases of phytoplankton development in Adventfjorden were distinguished: (1) spring bloom that has started under fast ice and reached maximum in the mid of May, (2) stagnation period in June, (3) increase of pigment concentration in July, what could indicate start of the next algae bloom. Analyses of chlorophylls and carotenoids revealed that diatoms (chl c, fucoxanthin), and green algae (chl b, lutein) dominated phytoplankton community in the fjord. Moreover, presence of peridinin indicates presence of Dinophyta and alloxanthin - occurence of Cryptophyta. In May and June 1997 phytoplankton appeared mainly in the surface of water, while in July, as a result of inflow of turbulent riverine waters into Adventfjorden, algae cells were pushed down and the highest numbers were observed at depth ~20 m. Great phaeopigments to chl a ratio (= 0.54) found in fjord seston in June and July probably shows strong impact of zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton development. High contribution of chlorophyllide a in porphyrin a poll in samples collected under fast ice (chlorophyllide a / chl a ratio = 0.18) reflects the final stage of algal communitie succession in ice, just before spring ice melt and release of biota to oceanic water. Chlorophyllide a content during summer was minor or not detectable, demonstrating that diatom cells were in good physiological condition. High chl a allomer / chl a ratio (average = 0.11 for the period investigated) confirms high oxygen concentration in environment of Adventfjorden.

Plankton biomass in the Mamala Basin (Oahu Island, Hawaii Islands) under antropogenic influence in August-September of 2002-2004

Anthropogenic impact on biomass of coastal plankton communities caused by submerged disposal of urban sewage waters (dumping) was studied. Observations were carried out in August-September of 2002-2004 in the Mamala Bay (Oahu Island, Hawaii Islands) using satellite and straight sea measurements. An analysis of variability of integral indicators of the water column determined on the basis of on-board measurements allowed us to divide them into two groups: elements most sensitive to pollution (heterotrophic bacteria (H-Bact), phototrophic cyanobacteria Synechococcus spp. (SYN), and chlorophyll a (CHLa)) and elements that manifested episodic positive dependence on inflow of polluted waters (heterotrophic unicellular eukaryotes, small unicellular algae, phototrophic green bacteria Prochlorococcus spp., as well as total biomass of microplankton). It was shown that submerged waste water disposal in the region of the diffuser of the dumping device led to insignificant (aver. 1.2-1.4 times) local increase in integral biomass of H-Bact, SYN, and in concentration of CHLa. Similar but sharper (aver. 1.5-2.1 times) increase in these parameters was found in water layers with maximal biomasses. Possible pathways of disposed waters (under the pycnocline, at its upper boundary, and in the entire mixed layer) were analyzed on the basis of studying vertical displacement of biomasses of H-Bact, SYN, and prochlorophytes. Possibility of using optical anomalies distinguished from satellite data as markers of anthropogenic eutrophication caused by dumping was confirmed. Application of such markers depends on water transparency and on shapes of curves of vertical distribution of autotrophic organisms.

Distribution of particulate matter and particulate organic carbon in waters of the Caspian Sea

Data on concentrations and distribution of particulate matter in the Caspian Sea obtained during surveys in 1981-1983 with use of modified filtering units have shown that over the major part of the sea concentration of particulate matter does dot exceed 1-2 mg/l. Only in the northern Caspian and in coastal regions concentrations correspond to values measured earlier. Total amount of particulate matter in the Caspian Sea is about of 90 million ton, 19.6% in the Northern Caspian, 28.1% in the Middle Caspian, and 52.3% in the Southern Caspian. Contents of carbon in particulate matter of the Central Caspian reach 30-40%, and over a significant part of the sea - 20%. A correlation has been found between areas of increased carbon contents in particulate matter and in bottom sediments. An important role of biofiltration in enrichment of particulates in organic matter has been noted. From data on carbon contents and an estimate of particulate matter input biogenic portion in particulate matter exceeds 50% for the whole sea.