Elemental composition of zooplankton in the Kara Sea and the bays on the eastern side of Novaya Zemlya

Abstract

The chemical composition of zooplankton in the Kara Sea Basin has been studied. Independent samplings of the open sea and the Blagopoluchie and Tsivol’ki bays of Novaya Zemlya testify to the similarity of the distribution pattern of all the studied elements. The chemical composition of samples is predominated by organic carbon (49.5 ± 4.8% of dry weight). The other most important constituent elements are Na, P, S, K, Mg, and Ca. Their average total concentrations are 4.82 ± 0.1%. From an analysis of the composition of major and trace elements of zooplankton in the Kara Sea and the bays of Novaya Zemlya, three groups of elements have been specified: with similar (С_org, K, S, P, Al, Ti, Sc, Cd, Se, Cs, and Rb), lower (Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba, B, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Co, Sb, Mo, Ag, Be, Ga, and Hg), and higher (Li, As, and U) contents compared to their mean concentrations in ocean zooplankton.