HYDROBIOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL-STUDIES IN ARCTIC - SEA BIOTA OF THE KARA SEA SOUTHWESTERN COAST (BAIDARATSKAYA BAY)

In the 1990s, great interest was expressed toward the development of g as and oil fields in the Arctic region, especially the Yamal gas field . A danger toward the fragile ecological equilibrium in the region ari ses with reference to their development and construction of pipelines across the tundra. In order to elaborate the nature of protective meas ures, the contractor and manager of the proposed works in the Yamal re gion allowed study of the natural background of the region and its bio ta, including the marine and coastal flora and fauna, which has been l ittle studied. The main groups of Arctic biota in the Northwestern Kar a Sea were studied in sufficient detail on the basis of regular expedi tions in 1991-1995 organized by the ''Ekosistema'' Research Associatio n and supported by the ''Gazprom'' Russian Stock Company. They include phyto-and zooplankton, phyto-and zoobenthos, necton (fish and mammals ), coastal and tundra plants, birds, and land mammals. Special attenti on was paid to elaboration of the nature protective measures and evalu ation of the effect of proposed works on the environment. Estimates ar e given for possible damage to fish and other biological resources. On the whole, the biota is evaluated as resistant to the natural severe climatic conditions and weakly protected against anthropogenic and tec hnogenic impact.