Labortatory of Ecology of Benthos

HEAD Yuri Ya. LATYPOV, Dr. Sci. Biol.

STAFF numbers 24, including 2 Drs Sci., 10 Cand. Sci.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: Investigation of bottom sediments of coastal waters, including regions which offer promise for mariculture. A comparative autoecological study of recent and fossil common species of macrobenthos inhabiting coastal waters and coral reefs is aimed at their rational utilization and preservation. Population density and size-age structure have been analyzed for common species of macrophytes and invertebrates promising for mariculture in Peter the Great Bay.

Species composition and distribution are studied in hermatypic corals of Vietnam, which constitute about 90% of all scleractinian fauna of the Indo-Pacific. Observations on oil-extracting platforms in the South China Sea have detected formation of the skeleton of an artificial coral reef as a final stage of fouling community.

The species composition and population structure of subfossil tanatocenoses, their succession with depth within the intertidal zone are shown to correspond to such changes in living cenoses in coastal waters of Peter the Great Bay. It was found that long-term cultivation of introduced Mizuhopecten yessoensis is associated with changes in the size-age structure and population density of natural mollucs settlements.

Systematics and ecology of gastropods of the World Ocean are studied. The composition, structure, and seasonal and long-period dynamics of meiobentic communities are investigated.

Phone: 31-11-82; 32-05-43