The press service of Rosneft reported that the first season of fieldwork has opened as part of a large-scale environmental project of the Rosneft company and the non-state development institute Innopraktika in the White Sea. The research will take three years.
“Two research vessels – Professor Zenkevich and Kartesh – began work in the western and eastern parts of the water zone. During expeditions, scientists will reproduce oceanographic research done 100 years ago by Konstantin Deryugin, one of the founders of Russian hydrobiology.
The purpose of Rosneft and Innopraktika’s large-scale research studies in the White Sea is to assess the impact of global climatic and local anthropogenic factors on the state of ecosystems in the northern seas. Scientists from the ships of Professor Zenkevich and Kartesh take samples of bacterio-, phyto-, ichthio- and zooplankton, studying benthic organism assemblages at the same points in the water region and using methods from a century ago. The available data on the climatic, hydrological, biological parameters of the White Sea are compared with the results of Deryugin’s research in 1922-1923. Such accuracy and authenticity is essential to give a solid scientific response to climate and environmental changes that have occurred over a century in the Russian Arctic.
“Ice is perennial in most seas of the Russian Arctic region, and annual in the White Sea. But now, due to global warming, first-year ice in the Arctic is becoming more and more. “Accordingly, research results in the White Sea are becoming more and more relevant for the entire Russian Arctic, and in particular for the analysis of climate change,” said Alexander Tsetlin, scientific director of the Rosneft and Innopraktiki project, director of the White Sea. Moscow State University Biology Station, Doctor of Biology Alexander Tsetlin. The White Sea, due to its natural features, is a kind of natural “polygon”, an ideal “model” for creating a comprehensive picture of the ecological situation of the Arctic seas as a whole. Comparing the “count” of the inhabitants of the White Sea by Deryugin with the available data, it is possible to reliably determine what changes have occurred in the Russian Arctic over the course of 100 years, and what is due to natural causes or, for example, man. activities. “There is no task to stop the changes, we are faced with the task of finding a strategy that will allow us to conserve nature and protect people,” he said.
At the same time, during the implementation of the environmental project of Rosneft and Innopraktika, scientists will use the most modern tools and innovative methods, including studying the bottom of the White Sea using underwater drones and conducting molecular genetic analysis of detected organisms. the only sequencer in the world located beyond the Arctic Circle. This will make it possible to obtain new data on the fauna of Arctic marine ecosystems and possibly discover species still unknown to science.
Nikolai, the technical director of the project and the Executive Director of Marine Research, explained that the research organized by Rosneft and Innopraktika in the White Sea simultaneously solves the most important tasks for the country and the planet in three areas: economic, scientific and environmental. Lomonosov Moscow State University Shabalin Center. “The Arctic is a quarter of Russia’s GDP, a fifth of exports and 28% of the region. But we must not forget about biodiversity: many species of fish, birds, animals depend on the state of northern ecosystems. We need the joint efforts of scientists, the business world and the state to follow the processes taking place here. “This project is a good example of such cooperation, and we really hope it will be a “building brick” for the long-term sustainable development of the Russian Arctic,” Shabalin said.
As a result of the Rosneft and Innopraktika project, a comprehensive scientific database will be created and methodological bases will be developed for monitoring the ecological state of the Western Arctic seas using next-generation technologies. These knowledge and tools are essential for long-term planning for the sustainable development of the Russian Arctic region.
To implement the Rosneft and Innopraktika project in the White Sea, an effective cooperation system was created between expert experts from the country’s leading research centers. Moscow State University Department of Biology MV Lomonosov, Moscow State University Marine Research Center MV Lomonosov, MVPP Shirshov RAS, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, Institute of Zoology RAS. The White Sea Biological Station of Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov became the basis of the project.