Activities of Zoological Institute concerning biodiversity inventories in the Gulf of Finland and possibilities for cooperation Sergey Golubkov, Nadezda.

Activities of Zoological Institute concerning

biodiversity inventories in the Gulf of Finland and

possibilities for cooperationSergey Golubkov, Nadezda Berezina, Marina Orlova, Aleksey Maximov, Eugenia Balushkina, Irena Telesh, Yulia Gubelit, Mikhail Golubkov

Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences St. Petersburg, Russia, [email protected],

www.zin.ruKotka, April 12-13, 2007

Contents• Brief history of long-term research • Eastern Gulf of Finland – HELCOM habitat

reference site. Biodiversity indicators• Factors affecting biodiversity of bottom

animals in open and coastal waters

Kotka, April 12-13, 2007

• Eutrophication• Alien species• Climatic

fluctuations• Distributional patterns and their variability• Possibilities for cooperation

Some publications

Monographs:• Polution and self purification of the Neva River. 1968.

Leningrad, 276 p. (In Russian)• Winberg G.G. & B. L. Gutelmakher (eds.) 1987. Neva Bay.

Hydrobiological researches. Leningrad, Nauka, 213 p. (in Russian)

• Alimov A.F. (ed.) 1988. Invertebrates communities in littoral reeds ecosystems. Proc. Zool. Inst. Acad. Sci., 186, 220 p. (in Russian)

• Alimov A.F. & N.V. Frolov (eds.) 1996. The environments of Neva River basin. St. Petersburg, Scientific Centre RAS, 208 p (in Russian)

• Alimov A.F. & S.M. Golubkov (eds.). 2007. Ecosystem of the Neva Estuary: biodiversity and ecological problems. (in Russian, in preparation).


ZOOPLANKTON ATLAS OF THE BALTIC SEAZOOPLANKTON ATLAS OF THE BALTIC SEATHE BALTIC MARINE BIOLOGISTS (BMB) Work Group 29: “Zooplankton Diversity”THE BALTIC MARINE BIOLOGISTS (BMB) Work Group 29: “Zooplankton Diversity”

WG Convener:WG Convener:Irena V. TeleshIrena V. TeleshZoological Institute of theZoological Institute of theRussian Academy of SciencesRussian Academy of SciencesSt. PetersburgSt. PetersburgRUSSIARUSSIA

2002 2004

Telesh & Heerkloss, 2002 Telesh & Heerkloss, 2004

Recent papers in international journals and monograph• Telesh I.V., Golubkov S.M., Alimov A.F. 2007. Neva Estuary. In: Schiewer U. (ed.),

Ecology of Baltic Coastal Waters. Springer Verlag. (In press)• Berezina N.A., Tsiplenkina I. G., Pankova E. S., Gubelit J. I. 2007. Dynamics of

invertebrate communities in stony littoral of the Neva Estuary (Baltic Sea) under macroalgal blooms. Transitional Water Bulletin. 1: 49-60.

• Orlova M.I, Telesh I.V, Berezina N.A, Antsulevich A.E, Maximov A.A, Litvinchuk L.F. 2006. Effects of nonindigenous species on diversity and community functioning in the eastern Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea). Helgoland Marine Research. 2: 98-105.

• Berezina N. A., Golubkov S. M., Gubelit J. I. 2005. Grazing effects of alien amphipods on macroalgae in the littoral zone of the Neva Estuary (eastern Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea). Oceanological and Hydrobiological studies. 34 (1). 63-82.

• Orlova M.I., Therriault T.W., Antonov P.I., Shcherbina G.Kh. 2005. Invasion ecology of quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis):a review of evolutionary and phylogenetic impacts. Aquatic Ecology 39: 401-418

• Orlova M., Golubkov, S., Kalinina L., Ignatieva N. 2004. Dreissena polymoprha (Bivalvia, Dreissenidae) in the Neva Estuary (eastern Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea): Is it a biofilter or source for pollution? Marine Pollution Bulletin, 49: 196-205.

• Telesh I.V. 2004. Plankton of the Baltic estuarine ecosystems with emphasis on Neva Estuary: a review of present knowledge and research perspectives. Marine Pollution Bull., 49: 206-219.

• Golubkov S.M., S. Back, V.N.Nikulina, M.I. Orlova, L.E. Anokhina, L.P. Umnova 2003. Effects of eutrophication and invasión of Dreissena polymorpha in coastal zone of the eastern Gulf of Finland // Proc.Estonian Acad.Sci.Biol.Ecol., 52, 3: 218-235.

• Maximov A.A. 2003. Changes of bottom macrofauna in the eastern Gulf of Finland in 1985-2002. Proc. Estonian Acad. Sci. Biol. Ecol., Vol. 52, N 4. P. 378–393.

The Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Gdansk have been selected by the BSRP as demonstration areas for the assessment of biological diversity. This assessment is also expected to be an illustrative example for the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) – Biodiversity component. The assessment should be based on historical and recent data and on limited number of biodiversity indicators, proposed by the ICES/BSRP Study Group on Ecosystem Health (SGEH) as priority indicators


Zoological Institute is a custom institution of HELCOM/ICES

LEAD LABORATORY ON BIODIVERSITY OFBALTIC SEA REGIONAL PROJECT

http://www.zin.ru/projects/baltdiv/index.htmlLocal Project Manager – Sergey Golubkov (e-mail: [email protected])

http://www.zin.ru/projects/baltdiv/index.html

http://www.zin.ru/projects/baltdiv/index.html

mailto:[email protected]

Biodiversity indicators, proposed by the ICES/BSRP Study Group on Ecosystem Health

• Area and depth distribution of submerged vascular plants and depth distribution of perennial macroalgae.

• Zoobenthos community structure including (extinct) threatened and/or declining species

• Alien species: non-indigenous species• Coastal fish community structure, and status of

commercial fish species• Coastal bird species populations (key groups – sea

ducks, divers, eiders, auks, cormorants)• Mammals: seal species population• Percentage of the MPA from total coastal zone and

proportion of different depth ranges under protection


Modern data were obtained during summer field expeditions on the catamaran Centaurus-2 conducted together with the team of the Russian State Hydrometeorological University


Neva Estuary is one of the largest Baltic estuaries: area 400 km2, runoff of the Neva River is 2000-3000 m3/sec. The estuary consists of shallow freshwater Neva Bay and brackishwater eastern Gulf of Finland. In the middle 1980’s Neva Bay had been separated from lower part of the estuary by a storm-surge barrier (the Dam)

GF-6

GF-8

V-1

V-2

Stations of regular data collection in open waters of the eGF


and during field excursions along the coastal zone of the Gulf of Finland

Stations of regular data collection in the costal zone of the eGF

Midsummer biomass (2004)Midsummer biomass (2004)and composition of zoobenthosand composition of zoobenthos

10.711.7

11.6

26.3

17.7

16.5

33.7

80.2

8.3

24.7


The major treats to biodiversity of eGoF:

Eutrophication

The macroalgal blooms and oxygen

deficiency are temporal and spatial

large-scale effects of eutrophication

(nutrient increase) in coastal zone

affecting negatively the benthic fauna

Invasive species

Established non-indigenous species

can enter into direct interactions with

native species through predation,

resource competition, modification of

habitats and hybridization

Decrease in Decrease in biodiversity of benthos biodiversity of benthos and increase a and increase a dominance of invasive dominance of invasive speciesspecies

2003

Concentration of chlorophyll Concentration of chlorophyll aa in the in the eastern Gulf of Finlandeastern Gulf of Finland in midsummer in midsummer

2003-2006

2005

2004

2006


2003

2004

2005 2006

Primary production of plankton (mgC lPrimary production of plankton (mgC l-1-1dd-1-1) in ) in the eastern Gulf of Finlandthe eastern Gulf of Finland in midsummer in midsummer 2003-

2005


0

10

20

30

40

50

1998 2004 2005 2006

Ch

loro

ph

yll,

mg

/m3

After construction of oil terminals in Primorsk and Visotsk midsummer chlorophyll a concentration in the Gulf of Vyborg have increased 4 times. Intensive cyanobacteria blooms are observed.

New oil terminal in Visotsk (Gulf of Vyborg)

17.07.05PetrodvoretcNeva Bay

““Macroalgae blooms”Macroalgae blooms”

Cladophora glomerataCladophora glomerata Beach in Resort District of St.Petersburg

““Macroalgal blooms” (mainly Macroalgal blooms” (mainly Cladophora glomerataCladophora glomerata) is ) is severe environmental problem for littoral zone of the severe environmental problem for littoral zone of the Neva EstuaryNeva Estuary

0

100

200

300

400

May

June

July

August

Septe

mbe

r

Bio

ma

ss

, g

DW

/m2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

May

June

July

August

Septe

mber

Pro

du

cti

on

, to

n W

W h

a.-1

mo

nth

-1

Average biomass Cladophora glomerataCladophora glomerata near Zelenogorsk in 2003-2006

Estimated production of of of filamentous algae filamentous algae Cladophora Cladophora glomerataglomerata reaches 20 – 25 ton WW ha-1 month-1 in the northern littoral of the eastern Gulf of Finland at the depth 0.5 – 1.5 m


Distribution of nuisance algae in the northern littoral 14 July 2005

% of drifting algae

0

10

20

3040

50

60

70

80

0-10 м 15-20 м 25-30 м 35-40 м

Distance from shoreline

%

Zone of drifting algae and algal matsZone of drifting algae and algal mats

14 July 2005Daytime oxygen saturation, %

0

50

100

150

0-10 м 15-20 м 25-30 м 35-40 м control

Distance from shoreline

%

The great masses of the detached The great masses of the detached filamentous algae filamentous algae on beaches,on beaches, loose-lying and loose-lying and driftingdrifting algal mats represent a serious treat to algal mats represent a serious treat to the biodiversity of coastal communitiesthe biodiversity of coastal communities


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

10.5

.02

29.5

.02

17.6

.02

30.6

.02

11.7

.02

8.8.

02

28.8

.02

16.9

.02

28.9

.02

20.1

0.02

18.5

.04

27.5

.04

11.6

.04

26.6

.04

12.7

.04

23.7

.04

4.8.

04

26.8

.04

21.9

.04

26.0

5.05

29.0

6.05

13.7

.05

16.0

8.05

3.09

.05

16.9

.05

Th

ou

s. I

nd

.m-2

Oligochaeta Amphipoda Insecta

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

29.5

.02

17.6

.02

30.6

.02

11.7

.02

29.7

.02

8.8.

02

28.8

.02

16.9

.02

28.9

.02

20.1

0.02

18.5

.04

27.5

.04

11.6

.04

18.6

.04

26.6

.04

12.7

.04

23.7

.04

4.8.

04

26.8

.04

21.9

.04

15.1

0.04

10.5

.05

26.5

.05

28.6

.05

13.7

.05

3.8.

05

16.8

.05

3.9.

05

16.9

.05

Oxy

gen,

%

Site 1 Site 2 Site 3

Dynamics of oxygen in water (near bottom) and density of invertebrates at study sites

We obtained significant positive We obtained significant positive correlations between density of correlations between density of invertebrate groups (oligochaetes, invertebrate groups (oligochaetes, chironomids, ephemeropterans, chironomids, ephemeropterans, trichopterans, amphipods) and trichopterans, amphipods) and oxygen content in water. oxygen content in water. Temporary hypoxia (Temporary hypoxia (0.620.62–2.8–2.8 mgl- mgl-1) and 1) and 4-10-fold decrease in 4-10-fold decrease in density of amphipods, density of amphipods, oligochaetes and aquatic insects oligochaetes and aquatic insects were rjdserved in littoral habitats were rjdserved in littoral habitats during decomposition of drifting during decomposition of drifting filamentous algae (July-August). filamentous algae (July-August). We conclude that intensive We conclude that intensive macroalgal blooms in littoral zone macroalgal blooms in littoral zone due to hard eutrophication of the due to hard eutrophication of the Neva Estuary can negatively affect Neva Estuary can negatively affect density of intolerant species and density of intolerant species and structure of invertebrate structure of invertebrate community through deterioration community through deterioration of oxygen conditions as a result of of oxygen conditions as a result of intensive decomposition of drifting intensive decomposition of drifting algae.algae.


Alien amphipods Alien amphipods Gmelinoides Gmelinoides fasciatusfasciatus and and Pontogammarus robustoidesPontogammarus robustoides established and have established and have become dominant species at become dominant species at all studied habitats in the all studied habitats in the coastal zone of the Estuary. coastal zone of the Estuary. They contribute about 70 % They contribute about 70 % in the total biomass of in the total biomass of zoobenthos and practically zoobenthos and practically replace of aborigine replace of aborigine amphipod amphipod Gammarus Gammarus lacustrislacustris

Pontogammarus robustoides

Gmelinoides fasciatus

Gammarus lacustris


NIS contribution into species diversity at the study area by the results for 2004-2005

after Orlova MI, Telesh IV, Berezina NA et al. 2006. Helgol Mar Res 60: 98–105

Total number of species

NIS and their (%) in total number

Assemblages

Phytoplankton 147 0 (0)

Phytobenthos 69 3 (4)

Zooplankton (holo-) 186 4 (2)

The same with larvae of benthic animals 190 7 (3)

Zoobenthos, nectobenthos,Fouling 196 22 (9)

Totally 597 28 (5)


Number of NIS in the Russian Part of the EGOF

14(10)

20(15)

7

6-8

12

11

Neva BayCordylophora caspia

Dreissena polymorphaElodea canadensis

Acorus calamusRiccia fluitans

Gmelinoides fasciatusPontogammarus robustoides

Eriocheir sinensisPerccottus glenii

Neogobius melanostomusProtrrorhynus marmoratusPotamothrix moldavensisIsohaetides michaelseni

Paranais frici

Resort DistrictElodea canadensis

Acorus calamusRiccia fluitans

Perccottus gleniiAcartia tonsa

Cordylophora caspiaDreissena polymophaGmelinoides fasciatus

Pontogammarus robustoidesChaetogammarus warpachowkyi

Marenzelleria neglectaPotamothrix moldavensisIsohaetides michaelseni

Tubifex newaensisParanais frici

Potamothrix veidovkyiP. Heusheri

Cercopagis pengoiEvadne anonyx

Prostoma puteale

Open watersTubificoides

pseudogasterStenocuma graciloides

Larvae of NISCercopagis pengoi

Evadne anonyxAcartia tonsa

PrimorskCordylophora caspia

Dreissena polymoprhaBalanus improvisus

Potamopyrgus antipodarumJaera sarsi

Marenzelleria heglectaCercopagis pengoi


Gammarus tigrinusMustela vison

Gulf of VyborgAcorus calamusElodea canadensisCornigerius maeoticusCercopagis pengoiEvadne anonyxAcartia tonsaDreissena polymoprhaBalanus improvisusCordylophora caspia

Jaera sarsiDreissena polymoprha

Dreissena bugensis

Luga BayDreissena polymorpha

Codylophora caspiaBalanus improvisusCercopagis pengoi


Marenzelleria neglecta

In 2006


Complex and productive zoobenthos in shallow coastal zone (0.5-1.5 m) and dominance of invasive species

After Berezina NA, Tciplenkina IG, Pankova ES, Gubelit JI. 2007. Transitional Water Bulletin. 1. 49-60

Midsummer biomass (2004)Midsummer biomass (2004)and composition of zoobenthosand composition of zoobenthos

10.711.7

11.6

26.3

17.7

16.5

33.7

80.2

8.3

24.7


At mixed and hard bottom….Contributions from different groups to total

biomass of zoobenthos

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Deep waterzone

Shallow waterzone, softbottoms

Shallow waterzone hardbottoms

The sameMINUS

Dreissena

Chirnomidae прочие Insecta Polycheta Oligochaeta

Hirudinea Gastropoda Bivalvia Amphipoda

Isopoda Mysidacea Other

Total biomass of zoobenthos (мг/м2) in shallow water zone of the Resort District

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

Deep waterzone

Shallow waterzone, softbottoms

Shallow waterzone hardbottoms

The sameMINUS

Dreissena

< 90% contributed by sessile seston feeders

High contribution of alien species to species High contribution of alien species to species diversity of macrozoobenthosdiversity of macrozoobenthos


Number of NIS vs Dreissena abundance

y = 0,0014x + 1,5731

R2 = 0,4789

y = 0,0008x + 1,2546

R2 = 0,1914

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Dreissena abundance ind/m2

Nu

mb

er o

f N

IS

Number of NIS Number of PC-NIS

Gasropods vs Dreissena

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0 50000 100000 150000 200000

Dreissena (mg)

Gas

tro

po

ds

(mg

)

Dreissena as an example for habitat engineer (depth 2-5 m)

Oligochaeta vs Dreissena

y = 0,0076x + 54,902

R2 = 0,7668

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

0 50000 100000 150000 200000

Dreisena (мg)

Oli

go

chae

ta (

мg

)

Chironomidae vs Dreissena

y = 0,0069x - 7,6054

R2 = 0,6698

-200

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

0 50000 100000 150000 200000

Dreissena (mg)

Ch

iro

no

mid

ae (

мg

)

bacterioplankton

phytoplankton

zooplankton

planktivorous fishes

phytobenthos

sediments

nutrients

zoobenthos

faeces, pseudofaeces

benthivorous fishes

waterfowl

Species-competitors

water transparency

Phytobenthos (Cladophora)

DIP= 513 kg/day (S=4.7 km2)

microhabitats, substrate


Climatic fluctuations

Decrease of frequency of Major Baltic inflows from the Northern Sea from the middle of 1970’s to the middle of 1990’s is connected with climatic phase of intensive atmospheric circulation, intensive precipitation and increase of river runoff in the Baltic region in that time

Decrease of atmospheric circulation and decrease of river runoff are observed during the last 10 years. That results in intensive Major Baltic Inflows and intrusions of poor oxygen salt waters from the western Gulf of Finland to its eastern part in 1996 и 2003. These intrusions leads to temporal deterioration of bottom fauna in the eastern Gulf of Finland


Biomass of zoobenthos in the eastern Gulf of Finland

in 2003 The areas of low benthic biomass that were impacted by saline oxygen-poor waters from deeper western part of the Gulf of Finland as a result of Major Baltic Inflows in 1996 and 2003. These intrusions led to destruction of zoobenthic communities

Direct impact of periodic inflows of saline Direct impact of periodic inflows of saline poor oxygen waters from the western Gulf poor oxygen waters from the western Gulf

of Finlandof Finland


Biomass of alien North-American polychaeta

Marenzelleria viridis in the eastern Gulf of Finland in 2005

Two alien species Marenzelleria viridis and Tubificoides pseudogaster appeared in the middle 1990’s and widely distributed in the western part of the Neva Estuary. In future Marenzelleria may become an important factor of eutrophication due to its ability to enhance a nutrient release from bottom sediments.


Average biomass of zoobenthos (g/m2) in the Neva Bay at the beginning of 1980’s and in 2000’s

Very high biomass of small freshwater mollusks Pisidiidae and worms Oligochaeta was observed in the eastern part of the Neva Bay at the beginning of 1980’s

Rather low biomass of zoobenthos was observed in the eastern part of the Neva Bay in 2000’s. At present, the dominant groups are Oligochaeta and large freshwater mollusks Unionidae

1980’s

2000’s


0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Dis

ch

arg

e o

f w

ate

r,

m3 /s

ec

1982 1985 1988 1996 1999 2002

Year

Water discharge of the River Neva during the late

decades

Relationships between biomass of zoobenthos in the Neva Bay

and water discharge of the River Neva

Riv

er r

unof

f, m

3 sec

-1

During XX Centaury high biomass of zoobenthos in the Neva Bay were observed in the years with high river runoff

Water discharge of the River Neva considerably decreased since the middle of 1990’s. This may resulted in a great decrease in zoobenthic biomass due to strong relationships between this parameter and river runoff.

y = 0.172e0.0022x

R2 = 0.87

0

40

80

120

160

1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

Water discharge, m3/sec

Zo

ob

enth

ic b

iom

ass,

g/m

2

Vertical distribution of benthic habitats

“littoral”

Open part

Shallow water

Deep water

Secchi depthPhytal

Soft bottoms (clay, silt, sand) with episodic oxygen deficit events

Sands, hard and mixed bottoms, fouling and soft-bottom communities, depth of 2-7 m

Good illumination, terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic vegetation, depth of 0-2 m, wave action, ice abrasion, water level oscillation up to 1m Kotka, April 12-13, 2007

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

g/m

2

1.5 m 3 m 5 m

Typical Dataset (1 transect) on dominant species (Dreissena polymoprha (1998-2005))

depth 3 m

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

L (мм)

N (

экз

.)


A portion of different taxa in the biomass of bottom animals in the eastern Gulf of Finland in 2000’s

In contrast to the early 1980’s when glacial relicts dominated in zoobenthos, Oligochaeta, alien Polychaeta and mollusk Macoma baltica dominate in bottom communities of the eastern Gulf of Finland nowadays.

Variability


Distributional patterns of zoobenthc biomass in the eGF


R2 = 0.72

n=180

5

10

15

20

25

1993 1996 1999 2002 2005

Nsp

R2 = 0.46

1.7

2.2

2.7

3.2

1993 1996 1999 2002 2005

Years

H

Average value of number of species of zoobenthos for Neva Bay in 1994 - 2005 for 180 examined stations

Average value of zoobenthos species diversity index for Neva Bay in 1994 - 2005 for 180 examined stations

50

55

60

65

70

1993 1996 1999 2002 2005

IP'

Average value of integrated index for Neva Bay in 1994 - 2005 for 180 examined stations

Species richness and biodiversity considerably changed during last decades



Assessment of the state and quality of waters of ecosystems of the Neva Bay by Integrated Index in 2005


• Russian State Programs “Ocean” and “Biodiversity”

• Scientific Program of St. Petersburg Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences

• Government of St. Petersburg • Finnish Ministry of Environment • INTAS Program• ICES/HELCOM Baltic Sea Regional Profect


In different years the investigations of Zoological Institute were supported by

Summary• The most important anthropogenic factors affecting

biodiversity of bottom animal communities are high eutrophication and facilitation of invasions of alien species;

• Natural climatic fluctuations also contribute to variability of biodiversity and distributional patterns in the eastern Gulf of Finland;

Trilateral cooperation may concern • inventory of species composition and modern

distributional patterns of bottom and planktonic communities in different parts of the Gulf of Finland;

• analysis of long-term data-sets to better understanding of factors effecting biodiversity;

• creation and cross-country exchange by GIS data-bases• harmonization of the methods of biodiversity assessment,

and methods using biodiversity for environmental assessment.


Activities of Zoological Institute concerning biodiversity inventories in the Gulf of Finland and possibilities for cooperation Sergey Golubkov, Nadezda.

Documents

neva estuary baltic

russian alimov

telesh zoological institute

gulf of gdansk

neva bay

cooperation slide

irena telesh

biodiversity inventories