Organic Matter–Destructing Bacteria in Bottom Sediments of the Southern Kamchatka: Distribution Patterns under Variable Geochemical Conditions

G. V. Frolkin1,*, K. M. Zaripova2, E. A. Tikhonova2, 3, N. V. Burdiyan2, Yu. V. Doroshenko2, K. A. Selivanova4

1 Research Center for Freshwater and Brackish-Water Hydrobiology – Branch of the A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Sevastopol, Russia

2 A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Sevastopol, Russia

3 Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia

4 Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Saint Petersburg, Russia

* e-mail: egor.frolkin@ibss-ras.ru

Abstract

The paper aims to assess the organic pollution level of the coastal waters of the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula based on microbiological and physical and chemical parameters of bottom sediments. During cruise 25/2 aboard PV Professor Multanovsky (July–August 2025), samples of surface-layer bottom sediments were collected at 16 stations in the north-western Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk. The grain size distribution, organic matter content (determined by the loss-on-ignition method), physical and chemical parameters of the bottom water (temperature, salinity, pH, redox potential), as well as the abundance of heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-oxidising bacteria (determined by the limiting dilution method) were determined. The study revealed that the organic matter content in silty soils (5.0–14.7%) was significantly higher than in sandy-gravelly soils (less than 2.3%); an inverse relationship was identified between this parameter and the redox potential (ρ = −0.72; p < 0.01). The abundance of heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 10² to 10⁷ cells·g⁻¹, whilst that of hydrocarbon-oxidising bacteria ranged from 10 to 10⁴ cells·g⁻¹. The highest abundance values for both groups were recorded in Avacha Bay (10⁷ and 10³ cl·g⁻¹, respectively) and in the recreational bays (Vilyuchenskaya, Listvennichnaya), indicating a high anthropogenic load. The minimum values (10² and 10 cells·g⁻¹) were recorded in the background area at the mouth of the Nalycheva River. A positive correlation was found between the abundance of hydrocarbon-oxidising bacteria and organic matter content (ρ = 0.6, p < 0.05), as well as a negative relationship was found between the abundance of both groups and the redox potential (for heterotrophic bacteria ρ = −0.7, p < 0.01; for hydrocarbon-oxidising bacteria ρ = −0.8, p < 0.001). The soil type has a statistically significant effect on the abundance of hydrocarbon-oxidising bacteria (p < 0.05). The results confirm the effectiveness of using heterotrophic bacteria and hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria abundance indicators as bioindicators of organic pollution and show the self-purification potential of the studied waters.

Keywords

bottom sediments, heterotrophic bacteria, hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria, coastal waters, Kamchatka Peninsula, Sea of Okhotsk

Acknowledgments

Sampling during the research cruise was carried out within the framework of the All-Russian scientific and educational program “Floating University” under the project “Training a young personnel reserve in marine sciences through the scientific and educational program ‘Floating University’ based on integrated studies of the ecosystems of the Russian Far Eastern seas” (projects No. 075-03-2025-662/8 and No. 075-03-2025-421/5). Preparation of culture media for assessing the abundance of indicator bacterial groups, pretreatment of bottom-sediment samples, and determination of the physical and chemical characteristics of bottom sediments were performed within the state assignment of the Federal Research Center IBSS on the topic “Study of biogeochemical patterns of radioecological and chemoecological processes in aquatic ecosystems of the Azov–Black Sea basin in comparison with other areas of the World Ocean and selected aquatic ecosystems of their catchment basins to support sustainable development in the southern seas of Russia” (state registration No. 124030100127-7). Determination of organic matter content in bottom sediments and analysis of the distribution patterns of indicator bacterial groups were supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the research area “Ecology and Biodiversity of Kamchatka” of the Interdepartmental Research Program of the Kamchatka Peninsula and Adjacent Waters for 2024–2026, project No. FZNS-2024-0037 “Integrated environmental monitoring of coastal marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Kamchatka”.

About the authors

Georgii V. Frolkin, Junior Researcher, Research Center for Freshwater and Saltwater Hydrobiology, Branch of IBSS, (2 Nakhimov Ave, Sevastopol, 299011, Russia), ORCID ID: 0009-0002-2260-5230, ResearcherID: NIU-5117-2025, egor.frolkin@ibss-ras.ru

Ksenia M. Zaripova, Junior Research Associate, A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimova Ave., Sevastopol, 299011, Russia), ORCID ID: 0009-0001-1160-4139, Scopus Author ID: 59173430600, ResearcherID: GWV-4575-2022, zaripova_km@ibss-ras.ru

Elena A. Tikhonova, Leading Researcher, A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimov Ave., Sevastopol, 299011, Russia); Far Eastern Federal University (10 vil. of Ayaks, Russky Island, Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai, Russia), PhD (Biol.), ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9137-087X, Scopus Author ID: 57208495804, ResearcherID: X-8524-2019, tihonoval@mail.ru

Nataliya V. Burdiyan, Senior Researcher, A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimova Ave., Sevastopol, 299011, Russia), PhD (Biol.), ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8030-1556, Scopus Author ID: 57208497483, ResearcherID: AAD-1704-2022, burdiyan@mail.ru

Yuliya V. Doroshenko, Researcher, A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (2 Nakhimova Ave., Sevastopol, 299011, Russia), PhD (Biol.), ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0498-3369; Scopus Author ID: 57211643141, ResearcherID: AAD-1706-2022, julia_doroshenko@mail.ru

Katerina A. Selivanova, Graduate Student, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia (48 Moyka River Embankment, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russia), katarina1107@yandex.ru

For citation

Frolkin, G.V., Zaripova, K.M., Tikhonova, E.A., Burdiyan, N.V., Doroshenko, Yu.V. and Selivanova, K.A., 2026. Organic Matter–Destructing Bacteria in Bottom Sediments of the Southern Kamchatka: Distribution Patterns under Variable Geochemical Conditions. Ecological Safety of Coastal and Shelf Zones of Sea, (3), pp. 139–155.

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