In July 2016 a diving survey was conducted to obtain list of laminarian species, their size, individual density, and standing crop of kelp species in Magadan, Sea of Okhotsk, far-east Russia. Water temperature and salinity were measured from May to July, and underwater photos of the sampling area are taken. In this survey 49 species in 6 families were listed. The size and standing crop of the kelp species were compared with previous data in Sea of Okhotsk.

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Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are important for the survival, maintenance and regeneration of specific neuronal populations in the adult brain. Depletion of these neurotrophic factors has been linked to diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Therefore, NGF and BDNF are considered to have preventive and/or therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disease. The stimulatory effects of 13 microalgae, Arhrospira platensis, 2 strains of Nostoc flagelliforme, 2 strains of Nostoc commune, Nostochopsis lobatus, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Coelastrum sp., Desmodesmus sp., Euglena sp., Pleurochrysis carterae and Porphyridium purpureum on the secretion of NGF and BDNF in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated. Eleven microalgae, A. platensis, 2 strains of N. flagelliforme, 2 strains N. commune, N. lobatus, C. pyrenoidosa, Coelastrum sp., Desmodesmus sp., P. carterae and P. purpureum significantly increased NGF secretion. On the other hand, seven microalgae, 2 strains of N. flagelliforme, 2 strains N. commune, N. lobatus, C. pyrenoidosa and P. purpureum significantly increased BDNF secretion. These results suggested that some microalgae have preventive effects against neurodegenerative diseases.

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The distribution of a saccharinan kelp that is similar to Saccharina japonica was confirmed in Hidaka region, Hokkaido. As a result of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis for the study individuals from Utoma in Hidaka region and the four varieties of S. japonica, genetic similarity (S) shows significantly higher value and genetic differentiation coefficient (G_ST) shows lower value both between the study individuals and S. japonica var. japonica. The structure analysis based on the limited AFLP data about the study individuals and S. japonica var. japonica showed two clusters in all samples. The cluster dominant in the study individuals was the same as the one dominant in the individuals collected from the inner part of the Uchiura Bay. Accordingly, the study individuals should be treated as S. japonica var. japonica and it is inferred that the individuals were introduced from the vicinity of boundary of Iburi and Oshima regions to Hidaka region.

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Monthly change of mannitol content in the kelp Saccharina japonica var. ochotensis from Wakkanai and Rebun, Northern Hokkaido, Sea of Japan was compared from July to November 2013. Compared to Wakkanai samples, the mannitol content of Rebun samples was higher from September to November. The Wakkanai samples had a higher mannitol content than the Rebun samples from July to August and then decreased.

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