1. Biogeochemical Assessment of Shallow Sea Environments (White Sea, Russian Arctic) S. Koukina, G. Korneeva, L. Ametistova and T. Bek P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology

3. Russia Russian Arctic White sea Pechora sea Kara sea Barents sea Laptev sea RussiaRussia

4. The White sea of Russian Arctic the inner sub- Arctic sea extreme diversity of enclosed estuarine systems unique biota

5. The Kandalaksha Bay of the White sea wide estuary with evenly distributed fresh water discharge contains a continuum of shallow sea environments

6. Location of sampling stations

7. Sampling 18 surface sediment samples were collected in June 2000

8. Study parameters Geochemical ­TOC, TON, TS, TP, TOC:TON ­total metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, Li, Zn, Pb) Biochemical ­enzymatic (amylase and protease) activities ­express enzymatic test-systems

9. Russian Arctic White sea Pechora sea Kara sea Barents sea Laptev sea

10. Mean TOC and metal contents (to nearest  g  g –1 ) in the surficial fine-grained sediments from the Karelian shore and those found in the White sea and Russian Arctic sediments

11. Elevated Zn and Cr levels in Karelian shore sediments: anthropogenic or natural? found values are below the threshold levels according to the sediment quality guidelines there is no major anthropogenic source of Zn and Cr some rock-building minerals of the area may concentrate Zn and Cr found disparities are related to natural differences in sediment compositions

12. Sediment quality assessment by an express test with azocasein-trypsin Ermolinskaya Azocasein turn-over period (h) Griaznaya Poyakonda Rugozerskaya Chernorechenskaya Podvolochie station number 10 h

13. Enzymatic activities in Karelian shore sediments dynamic index of organic matter decomposition rate largely controlled by the sediment granulometry amylolytic activity, EU proteolytic activity, EU Ermolinskaya Rugozerskaya Podvolochie Chernorechenskaya Griaznaya Poyakonda

14. Trace element distribution in the Karelian shore sediments Erm Rug Poy Gri Che Pod TOC content (%) element content (mg/kg)

18. Conclusions The present study has shown that local hydrodynamic situation predisposes geochemical and biological patterns of the environment and thus possesses considerable ecological relevance. Comprehensive biogeochemical approach exercised in the current research provides valuable information on grounds state of health and can thus serve as a basis of objective environmental assessment of a region.