The current status of the macrozoobenthos around the Atlantic walrus haul-outs in the Pechora Sea (SE Barents Sea)

Denisenko, Stanislav G; Денисенко, Н. В.; Chaban, E.M.; Gagaev, S. Yu.; Petryashov, V. V.; Журавлева, Н. Е.; Сухотин, А. А.

doi:10.1007/s00300-018-02455-3

Cited by 11 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The macrozoobenthos of the �echora �ea has been studied over nearly a hundred years �Zenk� evich, 1927; Dahle et al, 1998;Denisenko �. et al, 2003Kucheruk et al, 2003;�ukhotin et al, 2008;Denisenko N. et al, 2019). However, the vast majority of benthic surveys in this region were conducted on�board large research vessels at depths greater ~10 m. Hence there is a lack of macrozoobenthic data for near�shore and estua� rine zones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The �echora �ay is character� ised by a broad intertidal zone, with a tide height of 1.1-1. 5 m ��yshev et al, 2003;Denisenko N. et al, 2019). The ice thickness in winter reaches 1.5 m, freezing to the bottom of the shallow near�shore areas of the bay.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The �echora �ea in the southeast ��) basin of the �arents �ea is characterised by shallowness, a specific hydrological regime and by an intense off� shore oil and gas exploration and production �Den� isenko et al, 2003). The macrozoobenthos of the �echora �ea accounts for approximately 35% of the benthic biodiversity in the �arents �ea and is gener� ally well�described for the deeper waters; however, there is a lack of data for the near�shore areas �Dahle et Denisenko et al, 2003;Kucheruk et al, 2003;�ukhotin et al, 2008;Denisenko N. et al, 2019). The macrozoobenthos of the �echora �ea is characterised by a high variability in spatial distribu� tion �«mosaic pattern») caused by alterations of sea� floor topography and sediment types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…et al, 2019). The latest review of macrozoobenthos of the �echora �ay was by Denisenko N. et al �2019) and was based on samples collected in 1995. Twenty� two sites from a depth range of between 5 m and 18 m were studied in the north�east and central areas of the bay.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overall, the most common was a typi� cal estuarial assemblage with a strong dominance of Limecola balthica Linnaeus, 1758 �occurring at 9 of 22 sites). The L. balthica-community described by Denisenko N. et al �2019) had a mean biomass of 130.3 ± 64.8 g/m 2 and comprised 34 species in total.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Macrozoobenthos of the shallow waters of Pechora Bay (SE Barents Sea)

Gebruk¹,

Borisova²,

Glebova³

et al. 2019

Nat. Conserv. Res.

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Macrozoobenthic communities provide vital ecosystem services including habitats and foraging resources for other species in all marine ecosystems. Although macrozoobenthos of deeper parts of the �echora �ea �� ar� macrozoobenthos of deeper parts of the �echora �ea �� ar� ents �ea) have been studied in more detail, there is a lack of research in shallow waters of the �echora �ay. The study area lies within the Nenetsky �tate Nature Reserve, established in 1997, to protect important breeding and moulting grounds of waterfowl. Macrozoobenthos provide key foraging resources for waterfowl in the nature reserve, however, there is a mismatch between ornithological and macrobenthic data. �ight stations were studied along the Russky Zavorot �eninsula in the �echora �ay on a depth of 1.1-1.8 m within the near�shore zone of the Nenetsky �tate Nature Reserve in August 2016. A monodominant community of Limecola balthica with a biomass of 21.31 ± 0.32 g/m 2 and 14 species in total was recorded across the area. The dominant species of the community correspond to those in the community of L. balthica recently described from the central estuarine part of the �echora estuary. A low biomass and poor species richness in the L. balthica community support the earlier published results for the northern part of the bay and indicate the dependence of the community charac� teristics on environmental factors. The paucity of macrozoobenthos in the area is likely attributed to extreme environmental conditions including the following: �1) the water column freezes to the bottom during winter in the shallows of the Pechora estuary or (2) the freshwater flow spreads under the ice, severely impacting salinity. Hence the community is comprised of eurythermal and euryhaline forms and is reduced in biomass. It is unlikely that the shallows of the Russky Zavorot �eninsula play an important role as feeding grounds for benthic preda� tors since a low in biomass barren community of a burrowing mollusc L. balthica does not provide enough forag� ing resources to feed stocks of waterfowl. The L. balthica�community could be used as an indicator of climate changes in the future-it is predicted that a reduction in sea ice volume will improve conditions for growth of L. balthica and may therefore lead to an increased body size and biomass of bivalves in the shallows.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Macrozoobenthos of the shallow waters of Pechora Bay (SE Barents Sea)

Gebruk¹,

Borisova²,

Glebova³

et al. 2019

Nat. Conserv. Res.

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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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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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The current status of the macrozoobenthos around the Atlantic walrus haul-outs in the Pechora Sea (SE Barents Sea)

Cited by 11 publications

References 30 publications

Macrozoobenthos of the shallow waters of Pechora Bay (SE Barents Sea)

Macrozoobenthos of the shallow waters of Pechora Bay (SE Barents Sea)

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

Pechora Sea ecosystems: current state and future challenges

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