The Baltic Sea and Its Transition Zones
159
phytobenthic communities are either directly affected by increased nutrient levels, which favour fast growing seasonal nutrient opportunists in
competition with comparatively slowly growing, perennial macrophytes,
or indirectly by increased turbidity and inpairment of the light climate.
The present situation shows (Fig. 5.16) that eutrophication-related
changes in the marine vegetation and the mass development of algae
occur particularly in sheltered, enclosed water bodies, being the recipients of nutrient-loaded land runoff, such as lagoons, bights, coves, fjords,
or archipelagos. Also, the estuaries of rivers and streams, which carry the
wastes of the bordering population, industries, or agriculture, are the
actual and potential sites of changes in the benthic vegetation. From the
existing observations as well as from the resuds of experimental work it
may concluded that in the Baltic the primary and secondary effects of
eutrophication, rather than of other factors, is the main cause for the
widespread changes in benthic vegetation. In some areas with high levels
of pollution due to the proximity of certain industries or high population
densities, as for example along the Swedish or Polish coasts, direct effects
of pollutants toxic to marine macrophytes may be the primary cause of
observed changes in the vegetation.
References
Andersin AB, Sandler H (1983) Occurrence of hydrogen sulphide and low oxygen concentrations in the Baltic deep basins. Proc 16th CBO Symp, Kiel1988, 1: 102-111
Babenerd B (1986) Long-term observations of some hydrographical, chemical and planktological variables in Kiel Bay, 1957-1975. ICES CM. 1986/L 19: BioI Oceanogr Committee 1-8
Babenerd B, Zeitzschel B (1985) Trends flir eintragsrelevante Faktoren und flir die Nahrsalzkonzentrationen im Wasser der Kieler Bucht. Ein Beitrag zur Erfassung der Eutrophierung der Nord- und Ostsee. Ber lnst Meereskd, Univ Kiel 148: 1-45
Black H (1978) Vegetationsdynamische Untersuchungen an epilithischen Algengemeinschaften im sublitoral der westlichen Ostsee unter Beriicksichtigung der produktionsbiologischen Bestandsabschatzung. Rep Sonderforsch Ber 95, Univ Kiel44: 1-144
Borum J (1985) Development of epiphytic communities on eelgrass (Zostera marina)
along a nutrient gradient in a Danish estuary. Mar BioI 87: 211-218
Breuer G, Schramm W (1988) Changes in macro algal vegetation in Kiel Bight (Western
Baltic) during the past 20 years. Kiel Meeresforsch Sonderh 6: 241-255
Carlsson L, Gustavson BS (1991) Forandringar i forekomsten Fucus vesiculosus langs
Skanes Kuster under 1983-1991. VaxtsamhaIlen i Ostersjon, Berti! Lindvall Symp,
Kalmar 1991, Univ Kalmar (summary in Swedish)
Ciszewski P, Kruk-Dowgiallo L, Zmudzinski L (1992) Deterioration of the Puck Bay and
biotechnical approaches to its reclamation. Proc 12th Baltic Mar BioI Symp 1991,
Helsingor, pp 43-46
159
phytobenthic communities are either directly affected by increased nutrient levels, which favour fast growing seasonal nutrient opportunists in
competition with comparatively slowly growing, perennial macrophytes,
or indirectly by increased turbidity and inpairment of the light climate.
The present situation shows (Fig. 5.16) that eutrophication-related
changes in the marine vegetation and the mass development of algae
occur particularly in sheltered, enclosed water bodies, being the recipients of nutrient-loaded land runoff, such as lagoons, bights, coves, fjords,
or archipelagos. Also, the estuaries of rivers and streams, which carry the
wastes of the bordering population, industries, or agriculture, are the
actual and potential sites of changes in the benthic vegetation. From the
existing observations as well as from the resuds of experimental work it
may concluded that in the Baltic the primary and secondary effects of
eutrophication, rather than of other factors, is the main cause for the
widespread changes in benthic vegetation. In some areas with high levels
of pollution due to the proximity of certain industries or high population
densities, as for example along the Swedish or Polish coasts, direct effects
of pollutants toxic to marine macrophytes may be the primary cause of
observed changes in the vegetation.
References
Andersin AB, Sandler H (1983) Occurrence of hydrogen sulphide and low oxygen concentrations in the Baltic deep basins. Proc 16th CBO Symp, Kiel1988, 1: 102-111
Babenerd B (1986) Long-term observations of some hydrographical, chemical and planktological variables in Kiel Bay, 1957-1975. ICES CM. 1986/L 19: BioI Oceanogr Committee 1-8
Babenerd B, Zeitzschel B (1985) Trends flir eintragsrelevante Faktoren und flir die Nahrsalzkonzentrationen im Wasser der Kieler Bucht. Ein Beitrag zur Erfassung der Eutrophierung der Nord- und Ostsee. Ber lnst Meereskd, Univ Kiel 148: 1-45
Black H (1978) Vegetationsdynamische Untersuchungen an epilithischen Algengemeinschaften im sublitoral der westlichen Ostsee unter Beriicksichtigung der produktionsbiologischen Bestandsabschatzung. Rep Sonderforsch Ber 95, Univ Kiel44: 1-144
Borum J (1985) Development of epiphytic communities on eelgrass (Zostera marina)
along a nutrient gradient in a Danish estuary. Mar BioI 87: 211-218
Breuer G, Schramm W (1988) Changes in macro algal vegetation in Kiel Bight (Western
Baltic) during the past 20 years. Kiel Meeresforsch Sonderh 6: 241-255
Carlsson L, Gustavson BS (1991) Forandringar i forekomsten Fucus vesiculosus langs
Skanes Kuster under 1983-1991. VaxtsamhaIlen i Ostersjon, Berti! Lindvall Symp,
Kalmar 1991, Univ Kalmar (summary in Swedish)
Ciszewski P, Kruk-Dowgiallo L, Zmudzinski L (1992) Deterioration of the Puck Bay and
biotechnical approaches to its reclamation. Proc 12th Baltic Mar BioI Symp 1991,
Helsingor, pp 43-46