General Level of Organic Matter in the Marine Coastal Environment of the Russian Part of the Sea of Japan and Modeling of Macrobenthos Characteristics Changes

Global Journal on Advances in Pure & Applied Sciences

Issue 1 (2013) 1063-1069

Selected Paper of 1st Global Conference on Environmental Studies (CENVISU-2013), 24-27 April 2013, Zeynep Sentito Hotel, Belek, Antalya, Turkey General level of organic matter in the marine coastal environment of the Russian part of the Sea of Japan and modeling of macrobenthos characteristics changes

Yuliya A. Galysheva *, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia. Alexey A. Somov, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia.

Suggested Citation: Galysheva, A., Y. & Somov, A., A. General level of organic matter in the marine coastal environment of the Russian part of the Sea of Japan and modeling of macrobenthos characteristics changes, Global Journal on Advances in Pure & Applied Sciences [Online]. 2013, 01, pp 1063-1069. Available from: http://www.world- education-center.org/index.php/paas

Received December 02, 2012; revised January 13, 2013; accepted March 09, 2013. Selection and peer review under responsibility of Dr. Nehir Varol . ©2013 Academic World Education & Research Center. All rights reserved.

Abstract

The inflowing process and accumulation of organic matter in the bays and bights of the Russian coast of the Sea of Japan was evaluated. After using hydrochemical parameters and data of the total content of carbon in the sediments (Сgen) complex index of organic content in the environment (CIOCE) was calculated. Assessment of biological characteristics of macrobenthos by calculating the Shannon diversity index (I) and an index of disturbance (changes in) the trophic structure (ITSD) and comparing these values with CIOCE revealed a non-linear parabolic dependence on the 90% confidence level. The range of values of biological indexes (Shannon and IDTS), which indicate the maximum biological diversity and the welfare of the trophic structure of macrobenthos (ecological optimum) relates to range of values CIOCE 1.5-2.5. Range CIOCE less than 1.5, and more than 2.5 corresponds with biological diversity reduction, and disturbance of the trophic structure. The dependence obtained of organic matter accumulation indicates the beneficial effects of the processes in the marine environment on the structure of the macrobenthos, manifested to a certain threshold.

Keywords: organic matter, coastal zone, Sea of Japan, macrobenthos, biological diversity, trophic structures, modelling; The work is performed as a part of the grant of Russian President MK-6064.2012.4

*ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDANCE: Yuliya Galysheva, Far Eastern Federal University, Oktyabrskaya str., 25, Vladivostok, 690950, Russia. E-mail address: [email protected] / Tel.: +7-914-653-6557

Galysheva, A., Y. & Somov, A., A. General level of organic matter in the marine coastal environment of the Russian part of the Sea of Japan and modeling of macrobenthos characteristics changes, Global Journal on Advances in Pure & Applied Sciences [Online]. 2013, 01, pp 1063- 1069. Available from: http://www.world-education-center.org/index.php/paas

1. Introduction It is known that anthropogenic influence disturbs physical and chemical parameters of the marine environment, brings in compounds, alien to natural systems, and forms high and unnatural concentration of many substances in local coastal areas. As the result of anthropogenic pollution toxic substances (chlorinated hydrocarbons, compounds of heavy metals etc.), phenols and detergents, radionuclides enter sea waters. However, in coastal ecosystems of areas with developed infrastructure the biggest inflow and the most intense accumulation has the organic matter of household origin, which comes with communal flows, and organic oil pollution of big ports. It should be noted that organic matter (OM) is always present in water medium, therefore, the most important subject is not its presence but its balance, dynamics of inflow, oxidation in the process of decomposition and consumption to create primary production by producers of water ecosystems. In areas with developed infrastructure domestic wastewater makes the majority of organic inflow into marine environment: river flow from urbanized territories, land flow, discharge of sewage and bilged waters from ships, intense recreational pressure on the coast. Aside from wastewaters, another significant source of anthropogenic organic is civil fleet and navy, and also transport and (to a lesser degree) extraction of oil hydrocarbons. In the last decade have clearly appeared the signs of environmental burdening by industrial and other wastes that bring to the ocean a big variety of organic matter. Accumulation of OM slowly and imperceptibly starts up the mechanism of transformation of natural communities. It is considered that inflow of any substances into natural objects would most certainly have the negative effect on its inhabitants. But it is also known that natural systems have mechanisms ensuring its stability. Organic matter is a limiting factor for water reservoirs, determining diversity and structure of community, and in many natural systems this diversity is far from its maximum due to the lack of nutrition. On the other side, oversaturation of reservoirs’ environment with organic compounds is one of the causes of the decrease in variety of species and change of their quantity balance. In this work we aim to estimate the general level of content of organic matter in the Russian coastal zone of the Sea of Japan and attempt to model the changes in structural characteristics of macrobenthos in connection with the change of organic concentration in the environment.

2. Materials and methods Basis of developed model is calculation of Complex index of organic concentration in the environment – CIOCE. To calculate this index we have used the known values of marine water and bottom sediments of bays and gulfs of Primorye territory parameters (fig. 1) that reflect the content of organic matter (tab. 1), which are:

maximum value of content of organic matter in bottom sediments (Cgen), % 100 g of sample;

minimum content of dissolved oxygen in water (O2), mg O2/l; maximum value of biochemical consumption of oxygen by microorganisms in five days in surface

waters (BCO5), mg O2/l; maximum value of permanganate oxidation of surface waters (PO), mg, O/l.

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Figure 1. Layout map of location of Primorye territory coast regions used in calculating CIOCE

For the sake of unification all the data used to calculate CIOCE have been processed by extracting a double root of specific values (this reduces environment parameters to values which allow analyzing dependences in a universal range). CIOCE value has been derived by multiplication of all four parameters:

CIOCE= (√√Cgen)x([-√√O2])x(√√BCO5)x(√√PO). As the biota’s response to living conditions has been calculated an average value of Shannon diversity index for macrobenthos:

H = - ∑bi ln bi , where H – Shannon index, bi – i-species biomass weight in total macrobenthos biomass.

Also has been calculated index that reflects trophic structure of macrobenthos in coastal sea waters of Primorye territory – Index of trophic structure disorder (ITSD). Main trophic group, which is the most closely connected with content conditions of organic matter in marine environment, is detritophage (sorting and unsorting). Change in their contribution to the general benthos biomass reflects changes in environment conditions, mostly the amount of organic matter in its components. Increased contribution of detritophages in general biomass is seen to be a signal of disorder of the trophic structure that is typical for more favorable conditions. ITSD has been counted with the following formula: ITSD = Detritophages biomass/other trophic groups biomass. It has also been estimated the non-linear dependence of biologic indexes from CIOCE. Reliability rate P = 90%.

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Table 1. Parameters reflecting levels of content of organic matter in different water areas of Primorye territory coast [4] Maximum value of Summer hydrochemical rates C in bottom Regions gen sediments, % 100 g Minimum content Maximum value of Maximum value of of sample of O2, mg O2/l BCO5, mg O2/l PO, mg O/l Outlet area of 1,57 5,1 3,42 5,23 Tumannaya River 2,6 6,7 0,85 Possjet Bay 5,7

5,4 5,0 2,0 Amur Bay 10,1

Inner bays of 9,66 4,3 6,6 10,4 Vladivostok City 2,0 7,36 3,83 3,30 Ussuri Bay

2,87 6,2 5,86 8,2 Vostok Bay

Nakhodka Bay 3,2 5,8 8,0 10 Kievka Bight 1,16 6,1 1,6 3,8 Rudnaya Bight 1,97 6,5 2,2 3,1 Terney region 7,7 1,48 1,37 1,11 coast

3. Results and discussion Different areas of Russian coast of the Sea of Japan experience different levels and nature of anthropogenic influence, which leads to difference in levels of pollution and in sets of polluting substances. Russian coast is about 2100 km long and belongs to several federal subjects (Primorye territory, Khabarovsk territory and Sakhalin region). Most of continental coastal territory (80%) is ridges of Sikhote-Alin that put to the sea. About the same amount of coastal area is covered with forest. Biggest rivers that enter the Sea of Japan from Russia are Tumannaya (Tumen river), Razdolnaya (Suifen river), Partizanskaya (Suchan river), Samarga. Continental coast of the Sea of Japan is not very indented. The biggest gulf – Peter the Great Bay – is located in the south of Primorye territory in the central part of the western sea coast. Gulf shore is the most densely populated region here. General population of the Russian coast of the Sea of Japan is 1,44 million people (State of the…, 2007) with the density 14 pers./km2, which is much less than the density of population in the Korean (478 pers./km2) or Japanese (303 pers./km2) parts of the Sea of Japan. In Primorye territory there are two big ports on the Russian coast – Vladivostok and Nakhodka (fig. 1) with the total population of about 1 million people. Population of coastal towns and settlements of Khabrovsk territory and Sakhalin region is much less and totals to about 140 thousand people. Nature and intensity of anthropogenic influence on coastal ecosystems of the Sea of Japan along the Russian economic area is unequal. Coastal strip of Primorye territory (taking indent into account) is about 1200 km long. Best developed infrastructure lies in the south on the coast of Peter the Great Bay. Except the area at the outlet of Tumannaya River waters in the south-western part of the gulf is rather clean. In the basin of Tumannaya river live about 2 million people, however more than 75% of population are Chinese, 24% are Korean and only less than 1% live in Russia [6]. Main type of water pollution of Tumannaya river and its tributaries is organic pollution. Since the outlet area coast of Tumannaya river is inhabited by very few people, it is evident that pollution is transboundary and comes mainly from Chinese part. Possjet Bay – water area that cuts deeply into the land with many inner bays. Settlements Possjet, Zarubino, Kraskino and Andreevka are situated on the coast of the bay and their total population is more than 10,5 thousand people [8]. There are port areas which provide lumber, motor transport transshipment, moorage, regular shipping of passengers to South Korea and wide recreational zone. Hydrological conditions of Posyet bay stand out for their spatial irregularity [5] that is caused by the fact that inner bays and lagoons are cut from the main open body of the water area. 1066

Amur Bay is the water area that experiences a significant anthropologic pressure. On its coast are situated Vladivostok city and a lot of other big and small coast settlements. Total population on the coast of the bay is more than 640 thousand people [9]. The bay is a navigation zone – many constant transport routes that connect Vladivostok with other settlements pass here, moorage and small fleet navigation, navy roads are performed. The coast is under a strong recreational pressure. Also, communal flows of Vladivostok go into the bay. One of the biggest rivers of Primorye territory, Razdolnaya, enters the top of the bay, bringing to the sea a lot of terrogenic matter, settlements’ and farmlands’ wastewaters filled with OM. Waters that surround the central part of Vladivostok City and its inner bays are the most ecologically unfavorable. On their waters and coasts various economic activities are performed. These are port and moorage zones experiencing the strong pressure from city side. Environmental conditions in inner bays of Vladivostok city are extremely unfavorable. Water environment and bottom sediments quality is significantly disturbed. Total content of OM in bottom sediments can reach extremely high, uncharacteristic for the natural state of Peter the Great Bay waters values of more than 9% of solid residue [7]. Ussuri Bay is the biggest inner water area of the Peter the Great Bay, it is wide open into the sea and has an intensive water exchange with it. It should be noted that bay’s wide area, considerable depths and intensive water exchange with the open sea build conditions for self-cleaning, that is why in respect of organic pollution most of the bay’s waters have no problems with its accumulation. Vostok Bay for a long time has been one of the cleanest water areas, because there are few settlements and farmlands situated on its coast, no industrial enterprises producing ecologically dangerous production and emitting wastes into the sea present. Upper part of the bay is a national marine sanctuary “Zaliv-Vostok”, where economical activities are limited. However, during the latest 15 years as the result of growing recreational burdening and activization of industrial activities ecological situation in the Vostok bay has begun to change noticeably [5]. Nakhodka bay (earlier America Bay) is the biggest Russian port area. On its coast the second biggest city of Primorye territory, Nakhodka. Vostochny port in Vrangel bay is the biggest deep-water port of Russia. In Kozmin bay in the south-eastern part of Nakhodka bay has been built oil-loading station of “Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean” oil pipeline. Several bay regions serve as recreational areas and have beaches, camps and camping sites. River Partizanskaya, which has a noteable influence on hydrological and hydrochemical rate of the bay, flows into its top part. Inner bays (Nakhodka, Kozmin, Vrangel, Musatov) are characterized by the extended content of OM in the water medium and bottomset beds. Nakhodka bay coast in its apex is completely under quay walls and its waters experience strong water pollution. In the Vrangel bay are conducted regular activities on bottom deepening. Intensive anthropogenic pressure on the bay and accumulation of OM in its waters and bottomset beds are reflected in composition and structure of biocenoses [1, 2]. Eastern and northern coasts of Primorye territory are open coastal regions behind the limits of Peter the Great Bay. The coast has small settlements situated in it, among which the most important are Preobrazhenye, Olga, Rudnaya Pristan, Plastun and Terney. Total population of eastern and northern Primorye is about 25,4 thousand people [9]. Coastal territory has both undisturbed water areas that border upon natural reserves, and regions with apparent anthropogenic burdening. In respect of organic pollution the open coast of north-eastern Primorye territory is a region with favorable condition. Comparative data on OM content in the environment of bays and gulfs with different natural features and levels of anthropogenic burdening, and also comparison of those with biological characteristics, allowed estimating the connection between organic accumulation and change of natural communities. CIOCE of sea coastal zone of Primorye territory varies from 0,6 (Terney region coast, northern Primorye) to 3,52 (inner bays of Vladivostok city: Golden Horn, Uliss, Diomede) (tab. 2). Shannon diversity index values, calculated for macrobenthos of coastal areas (depth habitat up to 20 m) are minimal in the inner bays of Vladivostok city, which is caused by anthropogenic transformation of their environment and reorganization of bottom communities that consists of reducing of the amount of species and rise of the level of domination of a small number of taxons. The same water areas are characterized by maximum ITSD formed because of predominance of consumers of dissolved OM and OM in detritus, and also because of significant reduction (even disappearance) of herbivore and carnivore species.

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Dependences of biological parameters (Shannon index and ITSD) from CIOCE are opposite (fig. 2). Range of CIOCE values from 1,5 to 2,5, which corresponds to rise of content of organic matter in waters, is characterized by “improvement” in bottom biocenose structure – increase of biological diversity according to Shannon index and decrease of trophic structure disorder on account of less contribution of detritophages in total biomass. Model is limited with the range of CIOCE values from 0,5 to 3,5, which allows to avoid using it for values of the index out of the given range. Basing on proposed dependences it is suggested to range CIOCE in three levels: less than 1,5 – low level of organic content in the environment that cannot support maximum biological diversity and “prosperity” of macrobentos trophic structure (I); from 1,5 to 2,5 – level of enrichment of environment with organic matter, which supports maximum biological diversity and “prosperity” of macrobentos trophic structure (II); more than 2,5 – level of oversaturation of the environment with organic matter, which leads to decrease in biological diversity, change and disturbance of macrobenthos trophic structure (III). According to the given classification, the most unfavorable level (III) have water areas of Vladivostok city and Nakhodka bay; outlet zone of Tumannaya river, Amur and Vostok bays have favorable condition level (II); level of decrease of biodiversity and prosperity of trophic structure with the background of decrease level of content of OM in the environment (I) belongs to waters of northern and eastern coasts and Ussuri bay. Thus, the well-being of ecological structure of macrobenthos is connected with the content of organic matter in the environment and follows “the law of ecologic optimum”. Using values of parameters that reflect the content of OM in the environment, the level of biological diversity of macrobenthos and prosperity of its trophic structure can be predicted with the probability of 90% by the suggested model. Table 2. CIOCE, Shannon diversity index and ITSD for water areas of Primorye territory Shannon Regions CIOCE Level* ITSD index

Outlet area of Tumannaya River 1,53 II 2,63 2,87 Possjet Bay 1,17 I 2,06 8,06 Amur Bay 1,68 II 2,43 3,20 Inner bays of 3,52 III 1,10 16,21 Vladivostok City Ussuri Bay 1,15 I 2,75 2,90 Vostok Bay 2,17 II 2,36 0,80 Nakhodka Bay 2,58 III 2,51 10,40 Kievka Bight 1,04 I 1,91 10,57 Rudnaya Bight 1,20 I 1,30 2,89 Terney region coast 0,60 I 1,25 8,49 Note: *CIOCE level – see above

A B

Figure 2. Dependence of Shannon diversity index (A) and ITSD (B) from CIOCE for marine macrobenthos of Primorye territory coastal zones (accuracy 90%) 1068

4. Conclusion The balance of inflow and expense of OM in marine environment plays an important role in forming living conditions for marine biota. Accumulation of OM in the water and soil changes the content and structure of biocenoses. However, negative changes show themselves only when the content of OM gets close to critical – maximum or minimum – values. The “medium zone” of the values rate of index that shows accumulation of organic in the environment is characterized with values of macrobenthos structure rates that indicate increase in biological diversity and stabilization of trophic structure prosperity.

References

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