Abstract
Variability and complexity in brackish systems require long-term measurements in order to define base conditions, from which deviations can be ascertained. Long-term observations in three systems, lagoons, the Baltic Sea, and the Chesapeake Bay, are examined to identify system changes, unlikely detectable with sampling in single years or in temporally and spatially heterogeneous sampling. One basic condition in brackish systems is the gradient in salinity, which may be large-scale and rather stable stretching over the entire sea (marine gradient), or meso-scale and highly variable such as those in river plumes (estuarine gradient), and upwelling cells (upwelling gradient). For the first two gradients, and in some cases the third, distinct boundaries separate stenohaline taxa from more eurytopic taxa resulting in spatially explicit distributions of plankton, nutrients, and food web characteristics. The natural variability has to be ascertained through repeated long-term sampling in order to fix a baseline for shifts and trends in the ecosystem. A general trend during the last decades is cultural eutrophication, leading to increased phytoplankton biomass and sedimentation, and hypoxia in bottom water. In some areas, eutrophication was repressed in the 1990s, e.g., stabilization of chlorophyll concentrations in the Baltic Proper, recovery of macrophytes in the Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain (DZBC). In the coming years, the effects of declining nutrient loads are expected to cause a return to mesotrophic conditions in the DZBC, resulting in a return of nutrient limitation. Further monitoring will be performed to follow this unique event. It is therefore imperative that the community support long-term observations in these complex systems particularly as increasing human populations exacerbate impacts of global climate change that slowly warms waters, changes intensities and frequencies of meteorological events and responsive hydrologies, and shifts biogeographic ranges of many cosmopolitan taxa.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bergström, S., & Carlsson, B. (1994). River runoff to the Baltic Sea. 1950–1990. Ambio, 23, 280–287.
Blümel, C., Domin, A., Krause, J. C., Schubert, M., Schiewer, U., & Schubert, H. (2002). Der historische Makrophytenbewuchs der inneren Gewässer der deutschen Ostseeküste. Rostocker Meeresbiologische Beiträge, 10, 5–111.
Brodherr, B. (2006). Nutrient dependent growth dynamics of diatom spring populations in the southern Baltic Sea. Dissertation: Universität Rostock.
Conley, D., Humborg, C., Rahm, L., Savchuk, O. P., & Wulff, F. (2002). Hypoxia in the Baltic Sea and basin-scale changes in phosphorus biogeochemistry. Environmental Science and Technology, 36, 5315–5320.
Elmgren, R. (1989). Man’s impact on the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea: Energy flows today and at the turn of the century. Ambio, 18, 326–332.
Finni, T., Kononen, K., Olsonen, R., & Wallström, K. (2001). The history of cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic Sea. Ambio, 30, 172–178.
Gromisz, S., & Szymelfenig, M. (2005). Phytoplankton in the Hel upwelling region (the Baltic Sea). Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies, 34, 115–135.
Hagy, J. D., Boynton, W. R., Keefe, C. W., & Wood, K. V. (2004). Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay, 1950–2001: Long-term change in relation to nutrient loading and river flow. Estuaries, 27, 634–658.
Hannig, M., Lavik, G., Kuypers, M. M. M., Woebken, D., Martens-Habbena, W., & Jürgens, K. (2007). Shift from denitrification to anammox after inflow events in the central Baltic Sea. Limnology and Oceanography, 52, 1336–1345.
Harding, L.W., Jr. (1994). Long-term trends in the distribution of phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay: Roles of light, nutrients, and streamflow. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 104, 267–291.
Harrison, P. J., Turpin, D. H., Bienfang, P. K., & Davis, C. O. (1986). Sinking as a factor affecting phytoplankton species succession: The use of selective loss semi-continuous cultures. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 99, 19–30.
Hartsig, A. M., Lacouture, R. V., Sellner, S. G., & Imirie, A. L. (2007). Increases in Cyanobacteria during Summer in Mesohaline Chesapeake Bay, 1985–2006. Poster presented at the Estuarine Research Federation Meeting, Providence, RI, USA.
Kahru, M. (1997). Using satellites to monitor large-scale environmental change: A case study of cyanobacteria blooms in the Baltic. In M. Kahru, & C. W. Brown (Eds.), Monitoring algal blooms (pp. 43–61). Berlin: Springer.
Kaiser, W., Renk, H., & Schulz, S. (1981). Die Primärproduktion der Ostsee. Geodätische und Geophysikalische Veröffentlichungen des Nationalkomitees für Geodäsie und Geophysik bei der AdW der DDR Reihe IV, 33, 27–52.
Khlebovich, V. V. (1990). Some physico-chemical and biological phenomena in the salinity gradient. Limnologica, 20, 5–8.
Kononen, K., Kuparinen, J., Mäkelä, K., Laanemets, J., Pavelson, J., & Nômmann, S. (1996). Initiation of cyanobacterial blooms in a frontal region at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. Limnology & Oceanography, 41, 98–112.
Kuparinen, J., & Tuominen, L. (2001). Eutrophication and self-purification: Counteractions forced by large-scale cycles and hydrodynamic processes. Ambio, 30, 190–194.
Lindner, A. (1978). Soziologisch-ökologische Untersuchungen an der submersen Vegetation in der Boddenkette südlich des Darß und des Zingst (südliche Ostsee). Limnologica, 11, 229–305.
Malone, T. C. (1992): Effects of water column processes on dissolved oxygen, nutrients, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. In D. E. Smith, M. Leffler, & G. Mackiernan (Eds.), Oxygen dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay. A synthesis of recent research (pp. 61–112). College Park, MD: D Sea GrantCollege.
Malone, T. C., Kemp, W. M., Ducklow, H. W., Boynton, W. R., Tuttle, J. H., & Jonas, R. B. (1986). Lateral variation in the production and fate of phytoplankton in a partially stratified estuary. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 32, 149–160.
Mazur-Marzec, H., Krężel, A., Kobos, J., & Pliński, M. (2006). Toxic Nodularia spumigena blooms in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk: A ten-year survey. Oceanologia, 48, 255–273.
Nakonieczny, J., Ochocki, S., & Renk, H. (1991). Long-term changes in primary production and chlorophyll concentrations in the southern Baltic. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, 21, 145–152.
Nômmann, S., Sildam, S., Nôges, T., & Kahru, M. (1991). Plankton distribution during a coastal upwelling event off Hiiumaa, Baltic Sea: Impact of short-term flow field variability. Continental Shelf Research, 11, 95–108.
Poutanen, E.-L., & Nikkilä, K. (2001). Carotenoid pigments as tracers of cyanobacterial blooms in recent and post-glacial sediments of the Baltic Sea. Ambio, 30, 179–183.
Remane, A. (1940). Einführung in die zoologische Ökologie der Nord- und Ostsee. Lieferung 34 der Reihe: Tierwelt der Nord- und Ostsee. Leipzig: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft.
Remane, A. (1955). Die Brackwasser-Submergenz und die Umkomposition der Coenosen in Belt- und Ostsee. Kieler Meeresforschung, 11, 59–73.
Schiewer, U. (1985). Analyse und Bewertung des im 5-Jahrplanzeitraume 1981/85 erreichten Kenntnisstandes und seiner volkswirtschaftlichen Verwertbarkeit auf der Grundlage der erbrachten Teilleistungen. Forschungsbericht. Rostock: Wilhelm-Pieck-Universität Rostock.
Schiewer, U. (1988). Experimentelle Ökosystemanalyse – Ergebnisse und Probleme. Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Wilhelm-Pieck-Universität Rostock N-Reihe, 37, 13–17.
Schiewer, U. (1990). Werner Schnese and the development of coastal waters ecology in Rostock, GDR. International Review of Hydrobiology, 75, 1–13.
Schiewer, U. (1998a). 30 years eutrophication in shallow brackish waters – lessons to be learned. Hydrobiologia, 363, 73–79.
Schiewer, U. (1998b). Hypertrophy of a Baltic estuary – changes in structure and function of the planktonic community. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung für Limnologie, 26, 1503–1507.
Schiewer, U. (2001). Phytoplankton, Produktivität und Nahrungsnetze. Meer und Museum, 16, 39–45.
Schiewer, U. (2007). Darß-Zingst, Northern Rügener Bodden and Schlei. In U. Schiewer (Ed.), Ecology of Baltic coastal waters (pp. 35–86). Berlin: Springer.
Schlungbaum, G., Baudler, H., & Krech, M. (2001). Das Eutrophierungsproblem der Darß–Zingster Bodden – Nährstoffeinträge und Nährstoffbilanzen. Meer und Museum, 16, 25–34.
Schnese, W. (1978). Produktionsbiologische Grundlagen für die Einbürgerung von Planktonfressern in der Darss-Zingster Boddenkette. Materialien der III. Wiss. Konferenz zu Fragen der Physiologie und Biologie von Nutzfischen. Rostock: Wilhelm-Pieck-Universität Rostock.
Schubert, H. (1996) Ökophysiologie der Lichtanpassung des Phytoplanktons eutropher Flachgewässer. Habilitation, Universität Rostock.
Schubert, H., & Wasmund, N. (2005). Das Phytoplankton des Strelasundes und des Kubitzer Boddens. Meer und Museum, 18, 83–92.
Schubert, H., Blümel, C., Eggert, A., Rieling, T., Schubert, M., & Selig, U. (2004). Entwicklung von leitbildorientierten Bewertungsgrundlagen für innere Küstengewässer der deutschen Ostseeküste nach der EU-WRRL. Report BMBF-Projekt 0330014. Rostock: Universität Rostock.
Schumann, R. (1993). Zur Rolle des Pico– und Nanophytoplanktons im mikrobiellen Nahrungsgefüge der Darß–Zingster Boddenkette. Dissertation, Universität Rostock.
Sellner, K. G., & Brownlee, D. C. (1990). Dinoflagellate-microzooplankton interactions in Chesapeake Bay. In E. Granéli, B. Sundström, L. Edler, & D. M. Anderson (Eds.), Toxic marine phytoplankton (pp. 221-226). New York: Elsevier.
Sellner, K. G., Lacouture, R. V., & Parrish, C. R. (1988). Effects of increasing salinity on a cyanobacteria bloom in the Potomac River estuary. Journal of Plankton Research, 10, 49-61.
Sommer, U., Gliwicz, Z. M., Lampert, W., & Duncan, A. (1986). The PEG-model of seasonal succession of planktonic events in freshwaters. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 106, 433–471.
Suikkanen, S., Laamanen, M., & Huttunen, M. (2007). Long-term changes in summer phytoplankton communities of the open northern Baltic Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 71, 580–592.
Trzosinska A., & Lysiak-Pastuszak E. (1996). Oxygen and nutrients in the southern Baltic Sea. Oceanological Studies, 1, 41–76.
Vahtera, E., Laanemets, J., Pavelson, J., Huttunen, M., & Kononen, K. (2005). Effect of upwelling on the pelagic environment and bloom-forming cyanobacteria in the western Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. Journal of Marine Systems, 58, 67–82.
Wasmund, N. (1990). Characteristics of phytoplankton in brackish waters of different trophic levels. Limnologica, 20, 47–51.
Wasmund, N. (1996). Periodicity and trends in the phytoplankton of a shallow coastal water. In A. Andrushaitis (Ed.), Proceedings of the 13th Baltic Marine Biologists Symposium, Jurmala, Latvia, 31.8.1993–4.9.1993 (pp.63–66). Riga: Institute of Aquatic Ecology.
Wasmund, N., & Heerkloss, R. (1993). Seasonal and long-term succession of phytoplankton in shallow coastal water of the southern Baltic Sea. Studia i materialy oceanologiczne, 64, 203–213.
Wasmund, N., & Schiewer, U. (1994). Überblick zur Ökologie und Produktionsbiologie des Phytoplanktons der Darß-Zingster Boddenkette (südliche Ostsee). Rostocker Meeresbiologische Beiträge, 2, 41–60.
Wasmund, N., & Uhlig, S. (2003): Phytoplankton trends in the Baltic Sea. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 60, 177–186.
Wasmund, N., Andrushaitis, A., Łysiak-Pastuszak, E., Müller-Karulis, B., Nausch, G., Neumann, T., et al. (2001). Trophic status of the south-eastern Baltic Sea: A comparison of coastal and open areas. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 53, 849–864.
Wasmund, N., Nausch, G., & Matthäus, W. (1998). Phytoplankton spring blooms in the southern Baltic Sea – spatio-temporal development and long-term trends. Journal of Plankton Research, 20, 1099–1117.
Wasmund, N., Zalewski, M., & Busch, S. (1999). Phytoplankton in large river plumes in the Baltic Sea. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 56, 23–32.
Weiss, G. M., Harding, L. W., Jr., Itsweire, E. C., & Campbell, J. W. (2005). Characterizing lateral variability of phytoplankton chlorophyll in Chesapeake Bay with aircraft ocean color data. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 149, 183–199.
Yousef, M. (2000) Ökophysiologie von Makrophyten und Epiphyten in Flachwasserökosystemen. Dissertation, Universität Rostock.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schubert, H., Wasmund, N., Sellner, K.G. (2010). Long-Term Investigations in Brackish Ecosystems. In: Müller, F., Baessler, C., Schubert, H., Klotz, S. (eds) Long-Term Ecological Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8782-9_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8782-9_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8781-2
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8782-9
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)