Some Theoretical and Applied Aspects of the Oceanic Bioluminescence Registration from Space

The analysis of the surface bioluminescence in the World Ocean registration problems for the purposes of its regions ecological express-monitoring and evaluation of the plankton algae spatial distribution at night time by the existing space systems has been proposed. The connection of the plankton community characteristics with a bioluminescent potential (BP) in the euphotic layer and a possibility to evaluate BP according to bioluminescence intensity in the near-surface layer of 0 - 10 m has been demonstrated. It has been shown that with complete correspondence with the vertical structure in the plankton community at the dark time bioluminescence intensity in 0 - 10 m layer exceeds the same in 60 - 70 m layer for one and a half orders and practically determines BP in 0 - 100 m layer. Peculiarities of the plankton organisms light emission, important for the oceanic bioluminescence registration with the space means of observation are under discussion. Equation for calculation of the measured by the space device sea luminescence level and volume of the bioluminescence intensity in the surface layer of theWorldOcean, which can be registered due to modern technical means of the space systems has been corrected. The conclusion has been done that on the base of the space data about spatial and temporal phytoplankton distribution and bioluminescence “in situ” measurements it is possible to create regional algorithms for transition from numerical estimations of the phytoplankton (chlorophyll “a”) to the day time bioluminescent potential and solution of inverse tasks at night time.

Neutron Activation Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Phytoplankton in the Coastal Zone of Crimea (The Black Sea)

The physiology and ecology of planktonic organisms are influenced by the concentration, chemical speciation and resulting bioavailability of some trace metals. The determination of the elemental structure of phytoplankton is important for interpretation of physiological and functional states of coastal ecosystems. The present study is focused on the structure and elemental composition of the phytoplankton assemblages from the different coastal zones by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). For the first time these complementary techniques were simultaneously applied to study the Black Sea phytoplankton. The concentrations of 45 elements in the coastal phytoplankton communities used as bioindicator of inorganic contamination of the Black Sea coastal area near Sevastopol, Ukraine, were determined. Phytoplankton samples were collected by total tows of the plankton net with 35 μm pore size at 3 stations situated in polluted and relatively pristine water areas of the Sevastopol coastal zone during autumn period of the phytoplankton growth. The concentration of Mg, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Mn, As, Rb, Ba, Th and Fe, Cr increases exponentially from relatively pristine station to more polluted station and 10-times and 3-times greater, respectively, in the phytoplankton of the Sevastopol Bay. The rare-earth elements have relatively the same concentration values less than 1 μg/g and tend to accumulate in the phytoplankton from the polluted station in the Sevastopol Bay. The obtained results are in a good agreement with the elemental concentration data in the oceanic plankton, plankton communities from the White Sea and the Black Sea. Using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry the mineral particles of unknown origin and impurities of copper (0.42% by weight) in the phytoplankton at the polluted station and zinc (0.57% by weight) at the relatively pristine station were determined.