Bioindicators of marine pollution in impact areas

of the Sea of Okhotsk Olga N. Lukyanova1,2, Elena V. Zhuravel 2,3,

Denis N. Chulchekov1, Olga V.Podgurskaya3, Andrey A. Mazur2

1 Pacific Research Fisheries Centre, Vladivostok, Russia. 2 Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia 3 A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia

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Oil & gas deposits on the continental shelf of RF

3715

4520

38

1731

802

Kara Sea

Barens Sea

Other

Sea of Okhotsk

Caspian Sea

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The main areas of oil & gas deposits in the Sea of Okhotsk

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3

1 – North-Eastern Sakhalin shelf 2 – Western Kamchatka shelf 3 – Magadan shelf

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Spatial distribution of trawl stations of TINRO-centre in the Sea of Okhotsk in

1977- 2014

Biological resources of the Sea of Okhotsk

The Okhotsk Sea is regarded as the richest fishery region in the World Ocean 54,6 million t - total biomass of bottom and pelagic macrofauna 38,4 million t – total biomass of pelagic and bottom fish and cephalopods 11 million t - total volume of biological resources 7 million t of cod 2.5 million t of herring 1.5 million t of other seafood (e.g. molluscs and algae)

(Shuntov, 2001; Shuntov, Volvenko, 2015)

The main fish products: Walley Pollock, flounders, herring, capelin, halibut, crab.

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Spatial distribution of fish and crabs in the Sea of Okhotsk

(Shuntov, Volvenko, 2015)

Сrab Fish t/sq.km t/sq.km

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Goals

• To evaluate the marine environmental quality in impact areas of the Sea of Okhotsk using bioindicators

• To use the early embriogenesis of sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis as bioindicator of oil pollution on the nothern-eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island and western Kamchatka shelf

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Embryos and larvae of sea urchins as Bioindicators Embryos and larvae of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus nudus, S.intermedius, Scaphechinus mirabilis) are used as bioindicators of sea water quality

The advantages of sea urchin embryos as bioindicator:

•the possibility of getting of a large number of gametes •synchronous embryogenesis •simple methods of exposure •simple methods of observation and recording •the possibility of using of any sea urchin species due to their similar sensitivity to the toxic agents

Sea urchin eggs fertilization membrane formation Normal Exposure

Procedure (Kobayashi, 1977, 1994) • Get the mature eggs and sperms • Fertilization in testing sea water • Survey the early development during 48-96 hours

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Northern-Eastern Sakhalin Island shelf

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oil, mln t

gas, m3

Oil & gas drilling on Sakhalin shelf

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Map of sampling sites of sea water collected at the north-eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island in May , 2011

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Stage of development

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Amount of normal embryo and larvae (%) of sea urchin S. mirabilis developing in sea water from the off shore stations at the north-eastern Sakhalin shelf

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Control Abnormalities

Gastrula

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4-armed pluteus

Amount of normal embryo and larvae (%) of sea urchin S. mirabilis developing in sea water collected at the stations near oil platforms on the north-eastern Sakhalin shelf

Types of abnormalities: • Asynchronous development • Retardation of development •Different malformations

Number of abnormalities to 36 %.

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Map of sampling sites on Western Kamchatka , July-August, 2014

Gazprom license area

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154° 155° 156°

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58°

Температура-0 м

Temperature, Salinity and Oxygen concentration in sea water on the Western Kamchatka shelf in July,2014

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Amount of normal embryo and larvae (%) of sea urchin S. mirabilis developing in sea water collected along the

western Kamchatka shelf -1

1 – Fertilization membrane formation 2 – First cleavage 3 – Blastula formation 4 – Gastrulation 5 – 2-armed pluteus

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Amount of normal embryo and larvae (%) of sea urchin S. mirabilis developing in sea water collected along the

western Kamchatka shelf - 2

1 – Fertilization membrane formation 2 – First cleavage 3 – Blastula formation 4 – Gastrulation 5 – 2-armed pluteus

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Number (%) of sea urchin embryogenesis abnormalies in sea water from the north-eastern shelf of

Sakhalin Island and western Kamchatka shelf

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Conclusion • Embryos and larvae of sea urchins are suitable and sensitive

indicators of marine pollution in the areas of oil and gas exploration.

• Toxic effect of sea water on sea urchin embryogenesis near oil drilling platforms on the north-eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island was determined.

• Toxicity of sea water on western Kamchatka shelf can be caused by the activity of fishing vessels and natural oil infiltration.

• Regular use of bioindicators in the impact areas allow to assess the situation with the increasing anthropogenic influence and predict the environmental impacts on biological resources and whole ecosystems.

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Thank you for your attention!