Exploring the Current State and Dynamics of Benthic Communities in the Sea of Japan and Bering Sea (Cruise 93 of R/V Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev).

On cruise 93 of the R/V Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev (2021), we studied benthic communities in the Gamov Canyon (Sea of Japan), off the eastern coast of Kamchatka, and methane seep communities of the Koryak slope (Bering Sea); in addition, data were obtained on the sea-air mercury flux. The studies confirm the potential of the Gamov Canyon as a model site for long-term monitoring. We document significant changes in the structure and composition of the fauna compared to 2018 in the background and methane seep communities of the Koryak slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]