Late eneolithic and bronze age prologue pontic societies . Forest-steppe middle dniester and prut drainage basins in the 4th/3rd-2nd millennium bc: a history of investigations

The paper presents a historiographic context helpful in the current investigations of the cultural contacts between the societies of the east and west of Europe in the borderland of Podolia and moldova in the late Eneolithic and the prologue of the Bronze age . The focus is on the state of research (chiefly taxonomic and topogenetic) into the sequence of taxa in the age of early ‘barrow-building’, identified in the funerary rituals of societies settling the forest-steppe of the north- western Black Sea Coast in the 4th/3rd-2nd millennium BC .

Abundance and biomass of mesozooplankton in the western Black sea during Steaua de Mare cruise in 1982 and 1983

The Poluare 1982-1983 dataset contains zooplankton data collected allong 7 transect in front of the Romanian littoral. Zooplankton sampling was undertaken at 14 stations where samples were collected using a Juday closing net in the 0-2m layer . The dataset includes samples analysed for mesozooplankton species composition and abundance. Sampling volume was estimated by multiplying the mouth area with the wire length. Total biomass was estimated using a tabel with wet weight for each species an stage. Taxon-specific mesozooplankton abundance was counted under the microscope.

(Table 1) Main parameters of consumption of inorganic nitrogen compounds by microplankton in the western Black Sea in April 1993

Parameters of provision of the phytoplankton community with inorganic nitrogen compounds in the western Black Sea in April 1993 are analyzed (specifically, dependence of rates of uptake of nitrates and ammonium by microplankton on substrate concentration, diurnal dynamics of assimilation of mineral nitrogen, values of f-ratios, and proportions of carbon and nitrogen fluxes). In most cases all the parameters of degree of phytoplankton provision with mineral nitrogen are shown to vary unidirectionally, both at the surface and in the photosynthesis zone. Individual areas of a relatively small region studied differed markedly in their level of provision of algae with inorganic nitrogen compounds - from complete saturation to high degree of limitation of phytoplankton development due to nitrogen deficiency in the environment. Obtained results allow to estimate provision of Black Sea phytoplankton with nitrogen in terms of limitation of rates of uptake of its inorganic compounds.

Humic acids in sediments of North-Central Arabian Sea, west coast of India

Sediment samples (28) collected during the ORV Sagar Kanya cruise-29, were analysed for humic acid (HA) concentration from the North-Central Arabian Sea. Generally oceanic samples had more HA concentration than the continental shelf (< 200 m depth) samples. The photo-acoustic infrared spectra of shelf sediment HA indicated the presence of more C-H saturated aliphatic chains, while oceanic HA had few peaks for the above groups. Both the IR spectra indicated the absence of aromatic C = C, carbonyl, ketonic groups. Clayey-silt sediment generally had higher concentration of HA compared to sandy-silt type of sediment.

Role of light and photophysiological properties on phytoplankton succession during the spring bloom in the north-western Mediterranean Sea

This study aimed to determine the role of light on the succession of the phytoplankton community during the spring bloom in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. To this end, three successive Lagrangian experiments were carried out between March and April 2003. The three experiments correspond to distinct phases of the bloom development (pre-bloom, bloom peak and post-bloom, respectively) and therefore to different trophic conditions. Phytoplankton (sampled on a daily scale) was grouped in size-based classes (pico and nano+micro) each of them were characterised in terms of chemotaxonomic composition, primary production and photophysiological properties. The phytoplankton community evolved with time changing in both size-class dominance and specie/group dominance within each size class. The bloom peak was characterised by highly dynamic condition (i.e. vertical mixing) and by the dominance of both small (pico) and large (nano and micro) diatoms, as a result of their capacity to photoacclimate to changing light regimes (‘physiological plasticity’). Concluding, we suggest that the physiological adaptation to light is the main factor driving the succession of the phytoplankton community during the first phases of the bloom (until the onset of thermal stratification) in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Geochemical parameters of sediments and water of the Black Sea, data of Cruise 8 of R/V Vityaz-2

The book presents results of comprehensive geological investigations carried out during Cruise 8 of R/V "Vityaz-2" to the western part of the Black Sea in 1984. Systematic studies in the Black Sea during about hundred years have not weakened interest in the sea. Lithological and geochemical studies of sediments in estuarine areas of the Danube and the Kyzyl-Irmak rivers, as well as in adjacent parts of the deep sea and some other areas were the main aims of the cruise. Data on morphological structures of river fans, lithologic and chemical compositions of sediments in the fans and their areal distribution, forms of occurrence of chemical elements, role of organic matter and gases in sedimentation and diagenesis are given and discussed in the book.

Abundance of macrozooplankton in the north-eastern Black Sea during SESRU02 cruise in September 2008

The SESRU02_macrozooplankton dataset contains data collected in September 2008 at 15 stations located between 37°E and 39.5°E and between 42.4°N and 44.5°N in the north-eastern Black Sea. Samples were collected with a Ring net. Vertical tows of a Ring net, with mouth area 0.5 m**2, mesh size 400?m. Sample was taken from the layer 0-45 m. Towing speed: 0.8m/s. Samples were analyzed on board without preservation. Sampling volume was estimated by multiplying the mouth area by the wire length. The entire sample was analyzed on board. Macrozooplankton species were identified and enumerated.

Abundance of macrozooplankton in the north-eastern Black Sea during SESRU01 cruise in April 2008

The SESRU01 macrozooplankton dataset contains data collected in April 2008 at 19 stations located between 37°E and 39.5°E and between 42.4°N and 44.5°N in the north-eastern Black Sea. Samples were collected with a Ring net. Vertical tows of a Ring net, with mouth area 0.5 m**2, mesh size 400µm. Sample was taken from the layer 0-40 m. Towing speed: 0.8m/s. Samples were analyzed on board without preservation. Sampling volume was estimated by multiplying the mouth area with the wire length. Macrozooplankton species were identified and enumerated.

(Table 1) Heat flow data in the western Black Sea

Results of heat flow measurements are presented. On the basis of new data on structure of the sedimentary sequence, corrections are introduced that take account of effect of sedimentation. Diagrammatic maps of distribution of observed and deep-seated heat flow have been constructed. A hypothesis is offered that the regional zone of anomalously high heat-flow values on the northern continental slope has been controlled by processes of subsidence of an oceanic plate beneath its continental counterpart.