scholarly journals A conservation palaeobiological approach to assess faunal response of threatened biota under natural and anthropogenic environmental change

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2423-2442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina van de Velde ◽  
Elisabeth L. Jorissen ◽  
Thomas A. Neubauer ◽  
Silviu Radan ◽  
Ana Bianca Pavel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Lake System ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mollusc Species

Abstract. Palaeoecological records are required to test ecological hypotheses necessary for conservation strategies as short-term observations can insufficiently capture natural variability and identify drivers of biotic change. Here, we demonstrate the importance of an integrated conservation palaeobiology approach when making validated decisions for conservation and mitigating action. Our model system is the Razim–Sinoie lake complex (RSL) in the Danube Delta (Black Sea coast, Romania), a dynamic coastal lake system hosting unique Pontocaspian mollusc species that are now severely under threat. The Pontocaspians refer to an endemic species group that evolved in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins under reduced salinity settings over the past few million years. The natural, pre-industrial RSL contained a salinity gradient from fresh to mesohaline (18 ppm) until human intervention reduced the inflow of mesohaline Black Sea water into the lake system. We reconstruct the evolution of the RSL over the past 2000 years from integrated sedimentary facies and faunal analyses based on 11 age-dated sediment cores and investigate the response of mollusc species and communities to those past environmental changes. Three species associations (“marine”, “Pontocaspian” and “freshwater”) exist and their spatio-temporal shifts through the system are documented. Variable salinity gradients developed, with marine settings (and faunas) dominating in the southern part of the system and freshwater conditions (and faunas) in the northern and western parts. Pontocaspian species have mostly occurred in the centre of the RSL within the marine–freshwater salinity gradient. Today, freshwater species dominate the entire system, and only a single Pontocaspian species (Monodacna colorata) is found alive. We show that the human-induced reduced marine influence in the system has been a major driver of the decline of the endemic Pontocaspian biota. It urges improved conservation action by re-establishing a salinity gradient in the lake system to preserve these unique species.

scholarly journals A conservation palaeobiological approach to assess faunal response of threatened biota under natural and anthropogenic environmental change

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina van de Velde ◽  
Elisabeth L. Jorissen ◽  
Thomas A. Neubauer ◽  
Silviu Radan ◽  
Ana Bianca Pavel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Lake System ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mollusc Species

Abstract. Palaeoecological records are required to test ecological hypotheses necessary for conservation strategies as short-term observations can be insufficiently to capture natural variability and identify drivers of biotic change. Here, we demonstrate the importance of an integrated conservation palaeobiology approach to make validated decisions for conservation and mitigating action. Our model system is the Razim-Sinoie Lake complex (RSL) in the Danube Delta (Black Sea coast, Romania), a dynamic coastal lake system hosting unique Pontocaspian mollusc species that are now severely under threat. The Pontocaspians refer to an endemic species group that evolved in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins under reduced salinity settings over the past few million years. The natural, pre-industrial RSL contained a salinity gradient from fresh to mesohaline (18 ppm), until human interventions reduced the inflow of mesohaline Black Sea water into the lake system. We reconstruct the evolution of the RSL over the past 2000 years from integrated sedimentary facies and faunal analyses based on 11 age-dated sediment cores and investigate the response of mollusc species and communities to those past environmental changes. Three species associations (marine, Pontocaspian, freshwater) exist and their spatiotemporal shifts through the system are documented. Variable salinity gradients developed, with marine settings (and faunas) dominating in the southern part of the system and freshwater conditions (and faunas) in the northern and western parts. Pontocaspian species have mostly occurred in the centre of the RSL within the marine–freshwater salinity gradient. Today, freshwater species dominate the entire system, and only a single Pontocaspian species (Monodacna colorata) is found alive. We show that the human-induced reduced marine influence in the system has been a major driver of the decline of the endemic Pontocaspian biota. It urges for improved conservation actions by re-establishing a salinity gradient in the lake system to preserve these unique species.

scholarly journals Decline of unique Pontocaspian biodiversity in the Black Sea Basin: a review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandre Gogaladze ◽  
Mikhail Son ◽  
Matteo Lattuada ◽  
Vitaliy Anistratenko ◽  
Vitaly Syomin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mollusc Species ◽  
Anthropogenic Threats ◽  
Effective Conservation

Aim The unique aquatic Pontocaspian (PC) biota of the Black Sea Basin (BSB) is in decline. Lack of detailed knowledge on the status and trends of species, populations and communities hampers a thorough risk assessment and precludes effective conservation. This paper aims to review PC biodiversity trends using endemic molluscs as a model group. We aim to assess changes in PC habitats, community structure and species distribution over the past century and to identify direct anthropogenic threats. Location Black Sea Basin (Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia). Methods Presence/absence data of target mollusc species was assembled from literature, reports and personal observations. PC biodiversity trends in the NW BSB coastal regions were established by comparing 20th and 21st century occurrences. Direct drivers of habitat and biodiversity change were identified and documented. Results A very strong decline of PC species and communities during the past century is driven by a) damming of rivers, b) habitat modifications negatively affecting salinity gradients, c) pollution and eutrophication, d) invasive alien species and e) climate change. Four out of 10 studied regions, namely, the Danube Delta – Razim Lake system, Dniester Liman, Dnieper-South Bug Estuary and Taganrog Bay-Don Delta contain the entire spectrum of ecological conditions to support PC communities and still host threatened endemic PC mollusc species. Distribution data is incomplete, but the scale of deterioration of PC species and communities is evident from the assembled data, as are major direct threats. Main conclusions PC biodiversity in the BSB is profoundly affected by human activities. Standardised observation and collection data as well as precise definition of PC biota and habitats are necessary for targeted conservation actions. This study will help to set the research and policy agenda required to improve data collection to accommodate effective conservation of the unique PC biota.

HYDROGEN FROM HYDROGEN SULPHIDE IN BLACK SEA

2019 ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
S. Z. Baykara ◽  
E. H. Figen ◽  
A. Kale ◽  
T. N. Veziroglu
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Hydrogen Sulphide ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Environmental Pollutant ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Fuel Processing ◽  
Acid Gas ◽  
Reducing Bacteria

Hydrogen sulphide, an acid gas, is generally considered an environmental pollutant. As an industrial byproduct, it is produced mostly during fuel processing. Hydrogen sulphide occurs naturally in many gas wells and also in gas hydrates and gas-saturated sediments especially at the bottom of the Black Sea where 90% of the sea water is anaerobic.The anoxic conditions exist in the deepest parts of the basin since nearly 7300 years, caused by the density stratification following the significant influx of the Mediterranean water through the Bosphorous nearly 9000 years ago. Here, H2S is believed to be produced by sulphur reducing bacteria at an approximate rate of 10 000 tons per day, and it poses a serious threat since it keeps reducing the life in the Black Sea. An oxygen–hydrogen sulphide interface is established at 150–200 m below the surface after which H2S concentration starts increasing regularly until 1000 m, and finally reaches a nearly constant value of 9.5 mg/l around 1500 m depth.Hydrogen sulphide potentially has economic value if both sulphur and hydrogen can be recovered. Several methods are studied for H2S decomposition, including thermal, thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical and plasmochemical methods.In the present work, H2S potential in the Black Sea is investigated as a source of hydrogen, an evaluation of the developing prominent techniques for hydrogen production from H2S is made, and an engineering assessment is carried out regarding hydrogen production from H2S in the Black Sea using a process design based on the catalytic solar thermolysis approach. Possibility of a modular plant is considered for production at larger scale.

DISTRIBUTION OF DISSOLVED METHANE IN SURFACE COASTAL WATERS OF THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE BLACK SEA

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Kovaleva ◽  
Elena Kovaleva ◽  
Alexander Izhitskiy ◽  
Alexander Izhitskiy ◽  
Alexander Egorov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Methane Formation ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Southeastern Part ◽  
Dissolved Methane ◽  
Continental Runoff

Studying of methane formation and distribution in natural waters is important for understanding of biogeochemical processes of carbon cycle, searching for oil and gas sections and evaluation of CH4 emissions for investigations of greenhouse effect. The Black Sea is the largest methane water body on our planet. However, relatively low values of methane concentration (closed to equilibrium with the atmospheric air) are typical of the upper aerobic layer. At the same time, the distribution pattern of CH4 in surface waters of coastal areas is complicated by the influence of coastal biological productivity, continental runoff, bottom sources, hydrodynamic processes and anthropogenic effect. The investigation is focused on the spatial variability of dissolved methane in the surface layer of the sea in coastal regions affected by the continental runoff and anthropogenic pressure. Unique in situ data on methane concentrations were collected along the ship track on 2 sections between Sochi and Gelendzhik (2013, 2014) and 2 sections between Gelendzhik and Feodosia (2015). Overall 170 samples were obtained. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the samples revealed increase of CH4 saturation in the southeastern part of the Crimean shelf and the Kerch Strait area. Such a pattern was apparently caused by the influence of the Azov Sea water spread westward along the Crimean shore from the strait. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project 14-50-00095 and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Project 16-35-00156 mol_a.

LUMINESCENCE OF THE BLACK SEA MICROSCOPIC FUNGI CULTURES

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Mashukova ◽  
Olga Mashukova ◽  
Yuriy Tokarev ◽  
Yuriy Tokarev ◽  
Nadejda Kopytina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Ethyl Alcohol ◽  
Light Emission ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Control Culture ◽  
Chemical Stimulation ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
The Given ◽  
First Time

We studied for the first time luminescence characteristics of the some micromycetes, isolated from the bottom sediments of the Black sea from the 27 m depth. Luminescence parameters were registered at laboratory complex “Svet” using mechanical and chemical stimulations. Fungi cultures of genera Acremonium, Aspergillus, Penicillium were isolated on ChDA medium which served as control. Culture of Penicillium commune gave no light emission with any kind of stimulation. Culture of Acremonium sp. has shown luminescence in the blue – green field of spectrum. Using chemical stimulation by fresh water we registered signals with luminescence energy (to 3.24 ± 0.11)•108 quantum•cm2 and duration up to 4.42 s, which 3 times exceeded analogous magnitudes in a group, stimulated by sea water (p < 0.05). Under chemical stimulation by ethyl alcohol fungi culture luminescence was not observed. Culture of Aspergillus fumigatus possessed the most expressed properties of luminescence. Stimulation by fresh water culture emission with energy of (3.35 ± 0.11)•108 quantum•cm2 and duration up to 4.96 s. Action of ethyl alcohol to culture also stimulated signals, but intensity of light emission was 3–4 times lower than under mechanical stimulation. For sure the given studies will permit not only to evaluate contribution of marine fungi into general bioluminescence of the sea, but as well to determine places of accumulation of opportunistic species in the sea.

SITE-SPECIFIC EQUATIONS OF STATE FOR COASTAL SEA AREAS AND INLAND WATER BODIES

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Andrulionis ◽  
Natalia Andrulionis ◽  
Ivan Zavialov ◽  
Ivan Zavialov ◽  
Elena Kovaleva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Equation Of State ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Equations Of State ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Ionic Composition ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Aral Sea ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Coastal Sea

This article presents a new method of laboratory density determination and construction equations of state for marine waters with various ionic compositions and salinities was developed. The validation of the method was performed using the Ocean Standard Seawater and the UNESCO thermodynamic equation of state (EOS-80). Density measurements of water samples from the Aral Sea, the Black Sea and the Issyk-Kul Lake were performed using a high-precision laboratory density meter. The obtained results were compared with the density values calculated for the considered water samples by the EOS-80 equation. It was shown that difference in ionic composition between Standard Seawater and the considered water bodies results in significant inaccuracies in determination of water density using the EOS-80 equation. Basing on the laboratory measurements of density under various salinity and temperature values we constructed a new equation of state for the Aral Sea and the Black Sea water samples and estimated errors for their coefficients.

DISTRIBUTION OF DISSOLVED METHANE IN SURFACE COASTAL WATERS OF THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE BLACK SEA

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Kovaleva ◽  
Elena Kovaleva ◽  
Alexander Izhitskiy ◽  
Alexander Izhitskiy ◽  
Alexander Egorov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Methane Formation ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Southeastern Part ◽  
Dissolved Methane ◽  
Continental Runoff

Studying of methane formation and distribution in natural waters is important for understanding of biogeochemical processes of carbon cycle, searching for oil and gas sections and evaluation of CH4 emissions for investigations of greenhouse effect. The Black Sea is the largest methane water body on our planet. However, relatively low values of methane concentration (closed to equilibrium with the atmospheric air) are typical of the upper aerobic layer. At the same time, the distribution pattern of CH4 in surface waters of coastal areas is complicated by the influence of coastal biological productivity, continental runoff, bottom sources, hydrodynamic processes and anthropogenic effect. The investigation is focused on the spatial variability of dissolved methane in the surface layer of the sea in coastal regions affected by the continental runoff and anthropogenic pressure. Unique in situ data on methane concentrations were collected along the ship track on 2 sections between Sochi and Gelendzhik (2013, 2014) and 2 sections between Gelendzhik and Feodosia (2015). Overall 170 samples were obtained. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the samples revealed increase of CH4 saturation in the southeastern part of the Crimean shelf and the Kerch Strait area. Such a pattern was apparently caused by the influence of the Azov Sea water spread westward along the Crimean shore from the strait. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project 14-50-00095 and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Project 16-35-00156 mol_a.

A legislative initiative for the protection of Black Sea water from industrial indirect discharges

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 175-181
Author(s):  
Atanas Paskalev ◽  
Galina Dimova
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Waste Water Treatment ◽  
Short Review ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Ecological Problems ◽  
Legislative Initiative ◽  
Regional Authorities

The legislative initiative is an attempt for elaboration of a programme for control of the industrial wastewaters before their discharge into the sewerage. A short review of the existing Bulgarian legislation related to the ecological problems of the Black Sea is presented. The main problems obstructing the practical implementation of the laws and the regulations are analysed. In outlining the approach for control of the industrial discharges, special attention is paid to the necessity of theoretically sound and economically substantiated limits on the discharged wastewaters, extension of the regional authorities' activities on pollution control and involving the municipal Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) in the wastewater treatment management. The paper gives directions for the future development of a Black Sea Environmental policy, related to industrial indirect discharges at international, state and regional levels.

Comparative Assessment of Resistance of Hardwearing Anodes, Ternary Coated with Iridium, Ruthenium and Titanium

2017 ◽  
Vol 265 ◽  
pp. 580-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.N. Fesenko ◽  
I.V. Pchelnikov ◽  
R.V. Fedotov
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Sodium Hypochlorite ◽  
Sodium Salt ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Comparative Assessment ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Iridium Oxides ◽  
Corrosive Resistance ◽  
Selection Of

A selection of anode coatings has been studied to get sodium hypochlorite in low concentrationduring the electrolysis of 3% solution of sodium salt and the Black Sea water. The corrosive resistance of anodes has been determined, with different batches of ruthenium and iridium oxides, as well as their characteristics: chlorine outlet while passing throughthe current, voltage on the cell, the dynamics of concentration growth of available chlorine in solution.

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