Distribution of macrozoobenthos in an Arctic estuary (Pechora Bay, SE Barents Sea) during the spring flood period

Денисенко, Н. В.; Denisenko, Stanislav G; Lehtonen, Kari K.

doi:10.1007/s00300-018-02452-6

Cited by 9 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The online version of this article (https ://doi.org/10.1007/s0030 0-020-02775 -3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. due to their importance as feeding grounds for seabirds and marine mammals (Spiridonov et al 2017;Denisenko et al 2019a;Gebruk et al 2020). However, rapid increases in human activities such as oil and gas extraction, shipping, tourism, combined with climate change, introduction of invasive species and the release of contaminants are predicted to have a cumulative impact on the unique marine ecosystems of the Pechora Sea (Sukhotin et al 2019;Semenova et al 2019).…”

Section: Supplementary Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Average biomass of macrobenthos in the Pechora Sea ranges from 1.5 to 536 g wet weight per m 2 (Denisenko et al 2003). The shallows of Pechora Bay are characterised by particularly low biomass (Gebruk et al 2019;Denisenko et al 2019b), whilst the north-western parts near the Novaya Zemlya and Vaygach Islands have the highest values of biomass of macrobenthic invertebrates in the Pechora Sea with largest contributions formed by bivalve molluscs Astarte borealis, Ciliatocardium ciliatum, Serripes groenlandicus, Nicania montagui and Macoma calcarea (Denisenko et al 2019a;Gebruk et al 2020). The presence of C. opilio and predation on benthic invertebrates may have an impact on the structure of these macrobenthic communities in the Pechora Sea, and may also go on to affect the availability of benthic feeding resources for seabirds (i.e.…”

Section: Macrobenthos Of the Pechora Sea: Foraging Resources For Bentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). The study area lies within the important feeding grounds of Atlantic walruses (Semenova et al 2019;Denisenko et al 2019a;Gebruk et al 2020), and marine duck species, including kind eiders, black and velvet scoters (Sukhotin et al 2008). According to previous benthic surveys, macrobenthos in the area is formed by diverse communities of 133 species of invertebrates (Gebruk et al 2020).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Presence of the decapod species C. opilio, H. araneus and P. pubescens in the research area was previously noted based on remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video footage (Gebruk et al 2020), but their diets and trophic roles have not been studied. Bottom sediments are mostly homogeneous and formed by silty sands (Denisenko et al 2019a;Gebruk et al 2020).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trophic niches of benthic crustaceans in the Pechora Sea suggest that the invasive snow crab Chionoecetes opilio could be an important competitor

et al. 2020

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Expanding human activities alongside climate change, the introduction of invasive species and water contamination pose multiple threats to the unique marine ecosystems of the Pechora Sea in the Russian Arctic. Baseline data on biodiversity and responses to environmental change are urgently needed. Benthic decapod crustaceans are globally distributed and play an important role in fisheries, yet their roles in food webs are less understood. In this study, we used an integrated approach combining stomach content analysis and stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) to examine the trophic niches of three decapod species in the Pechora Sea including the invasive snow crab Chionoecetes opilio and two species of native decapods, the spider crab Hyas araneus and the hermit crab Pagurus pubescens. Stomach contents of 75 decapods were analysed (C. opilion = 23; H. araneusn = 9; P. pubescensn = 43), and 20 categories of prey items were identified with the most frequently occurring prey items being bivalve molluscs (Ciliatocardium ciliatum, Ennucula tenuis, Macoma calcarea), polychaetes, crustaceans and plant debris. Bayesian ellipse analyses of stable isotope signatures (n = 40) revealed that C. opilio displays an overlapping trophic niche with the two native decapods, providing direct evidence that the invader likely competes for food resources with both H. araneus and P. pubescens. As such, the presence of this invasive species could hold important consequences for trophic interactions, benthic ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Microplastics were also found to be a likely stressor on this ecosystem, as 28% of all stomachs contained digested microplastics among other items. Long-term studies of benthic ecosystem structure and functioning are now needed to more fully understand the extent to which this new competitor may alter the future biodiversity of the Pechora Sea alongside the additional stressor of digested plastics.

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Section: Supplementary Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Macrobenthos Of the Pechora Sea: Foraging Resources For Bentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trophic niches of benthic crustaceans in the Pechora Sea suggest that the invasive snow crab Chionoecetes opilio could be an important competitor

et al. 2020

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“…The density and growth rates of these species depend primarily on the type of sediment and hydrodynamic conditions of the habitats; therefore, their populations are not expected to be directly affected by climatic changes observed in the Pechora Sea. Studies by Usov et al (2019) and Denisenko et al (2019a) demonstrate spatial distribution of zooplankton and benthic communities along environmental gradients, such as salinity and turbidity clines caused by a massive terrestrial freshwater runoff. Benthos was only slightly disturbed by spring freshwater discharge, mostly through intensified ice scouring, while zooplanktonic communities were expectedly more labile, showing higher diversity and reduced abundance in more turbid and less saline waters.…”

Section: Current Research On the Pechora Sea Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pechora Sea ecosystems: current state and future challenges

2019

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The southeastern part of the Barents Sea, conventionally called the Pechora Sea, is among the most peculiar regions of the European Arctic. It is a shallow shelf area that is directly influenced by modified Atlantic and Arctic waters, as well as by freshwater runoff from the Pechora River. Due to its unique environmental features and habitats, the Pechora Sea is regarded as one of the most important areas of the Barents Sea. Rich planktonic and benthic communities, including extensive mussel beds, support large stocks of fish, seals, and walruses, and enormous gatherings of benthos feeding waterfowl. In recent years, economic activities, such as oil and gas production, shipping of crude oil through marine terminals, and ship traffic along the Northern Sea Route, have dramatically increased in the Pechora Sea. These anthropogenic pressures, as well as the observed and predicted natural environmental changes, will most likely affect the sea's pelagic and benthic ecosystems. Therefore, information on the current state of the Pechora Sea ecosystems is urgently needed to provide baseline reference data, against which possible future shifts can be determined. The research presented in this special issue provides such data on the most important elements of the Pechora Sea ecosystems and adjacent areas and demonstrates the interconnection between these ecosystem components and key environmental factors. Considering the already recorded and potential changes in this region, the observed trends and processes in marine biota can be applied to other low Arctic seas and serve for modelling and predictions of future ecosystem shifts.

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Integrated study of benthic foraging resources for Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Pechora Sea, south‐eastern Barents Sea

Gebruk

Mikhaylyukova

Mardashova

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

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The Atlantic walrus, Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, forms a herd of nearly 4,000 heads in the Pechora Sea (south‐eastern Barents Sea). The Near Threatened status of O. rosmarus rosmarus and the relative isolation of the Pechora Sea population, as well as the potential impacts of human activities in the area, make it important to characterize key habitats, including feeding grounds, in order to protect the species. The aim of the present study was to integrate multiple sources of environmental and biological data collected by satellite telemetry, remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and benthic grab sampling to examine the distribution and diversity of benthic foraging resources used by walrus in the Pechora Sea. Analysis of satellite telemetry data from seven males tagged on Vaigach Island helped to identify areas of high use by walruses near haulout sites on Matveev and Vaigach islands, and in between. Field data were collected from those feeding grounds in July 2016 using ROV video recordings and bottom grab sampling. Analysis of 19 grab stations revealed a heterogeneous macrobenthic community of 133 taxa with a mean biomass of 147.11 ± 7.35 g/m2. Bivalve molluscs, particularly Astarte borealis, Astarte montagui, and Ciliatocardium ciliatum, dominated the overall macrobenthic biomass, making up two‐thirds of the total. Analysis of 16 ROV video transects showed high occurrences of mobile benthic decapods (3.03 ± 2.74 ind./min) and provided the first direct evidence that areas actively used by walrus in the Pechora Sea overlap with the distribution of the non‐native omnivorous snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio. Integrating multiple data sources provides an early foundation for the kinds of ecosystem‐based approaches needed to improve Pechora Sea resource management and to underpin Russia’s nascent marine spatial planning initiatives. Factors that need to be considered in marine spatial planning include impacts on benthic feeding grounds from offshore oil and gas development and the spread of the snow crab.

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Distribution of macrozoobenthos in an Arctic estuary (Pechora Bay, SE Barents Sea) during the spring flood period

Cited by 9 publications

References 45 publications

Trophic niches of benthic crustaceans in the Pechora Sea suggest that the invasive snow crab Chionoecetes opilio could be an important competitor

Trophic niches of benthic crustaceans in the Pechora Sea suggest that the invasive snow crab Chionoecetes opilio could be an important competitor

Pechora Sea ecosystems: current state and future challenges

Integrated study of benthic foraging resources for Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in the Pechora Sea, south‐eastern Barents Sea

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