Methodological Aspects of Estimates of Self-Purifying Ability of Marine Shallow Water Ecosystems (Gulfs, Bays, Ports)

E. E. Sovga1, I. V. Mezentseva2

1 Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS, Sevastopol, Russia

2 Sevastopol Branch of the N.N. Zubov State Oceanographic Institute, Sevastopol, Russia

Abstract

Methodical peculiarities of realization of two methods (balance and synoptic) of self-purifying ability of marine shallow water ecosystems with different anthropogenic load are considered to study the Odessa Port, the Dnieper Estuary and the Sevastopol Bay as an example. An algorithm to estimate the assimilation capacity by the balance method is developed. It is modified for sea areas subject to multi-year state / departmental chemical monitoring. The assessment of the self-purifying ability of the water areas is possibility using the synoptic method, which is based on data of a single oceanographic survey in the absence of long-term systematic observations. Advantages and disadvantages of each applied methods are given. The diagnostic of ecological prosperity of ecosystems under study is possible taking into account the assimilation capacity calculated by both methods.

Keywords

ecosystem, assimilation capacity, the Dnieper estuary, the Odessa port, the Sevastopol Bay, ecological prosperity

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