Ecology of Baltic Coastal Waters (Ecological Studies (197))

The Baltic Sea is one of the most investigated water bodies in the world. For decades, the many highly industrialised nations around the Baltic have financed basic and applied investigations, as well as the building and development of research stations and vessels. After World War II, research in the Baltic Proper was intensified and investi- tions became much more international. The main goals of such investigations were analysis of the eutrophication and pollution of the Baltic Sea, and development of mitigating strategies (e.g. the HELCOM-Program). In contrast, research into the coastal zones was carried out mainly under national sovereignty by individual governments due to differing political regimes. Consequently, there was a lack of international collaboration and publications regarding these regions. This changed following the collapse of the former socialist governments. Nevertheless, research activities in the coastal regions still lag behind those in the Baltic Proper. A general description is further hampered by the great variety of coastal water ecosystems. The aim of this book is to overcome this lack by presenting the important Baltic coastal zones in the form of “ecological case studies”. In this way the book rep- sents an important supplement to literature concerning the Baltic Proper.

This volume provides the first comprehensive overview of the enormous ecological diversity of Baltic coastal ecosystems. A short introduction into the Baltic Sea as a reference ecosystem is followed by detailed descriptions of the characteristics of coastal ecosystems. Ecological case studies from the following four regions illustrate the different reactions of these ecosystems to natural and anthropogenic influences: Southern Baltic coast: Fjörden, Boddens, Lagoons and nearshore zones, Eastern Baltic coast: Gulf of Gdansk, Gulf of Riga, Northeastern Baltic coast: Neva Estuary and Gulf of Finland, Western Baltic coast: Stockholm Archipelago, Askö area and Himmerfjärden, Odense Fjord and Kerteminde Fjord/Kertinge Nor.

This volume also presents a synthesis of the common and distinguishing characteristics and processes of the coastal waters compared with the Baltic Proper, as well as highlighting research deficits. An outlook on further developments in coastal research rounds off the volume.

This volume provides the first comprehensive overview of the enormous ecological diversity of Baltic coastal ecosystems. A short introduction into the Baltic Sea as a reference ecosystem is followed by detailed descriptions of the characteristics of coastal ecosystems. Ecological case studies from the following four regions illustrate the different reactions of these ecosystems to natural and anthropogenic influences: Southern Baltic coast: Fjörden, Boddens, Lagoons and nearshore zones, Eastern Baltic coast: Gulf of Gdansk, Gulf of Riga, Northeastern Baltic coast: Neva Estuary and Gulf of Finland, Western Baltic coast: Stockholm Archipelago, Askö area and Himmerfjärden, Odense Fjord and Kerteminde Fjord/Kertinge Nor. This volume also presents a synthesis of the common and distinguishing characteristics and processes of the coastal waters compared with the Baltic Proper, as well as highlighting research deficits. An outlook on further developments in coastal research rounds off the volume Introduction ; The Baltic coastal zones ; Darss-Zingst Boddens, Northern Rügener Boddens, and Schlei ; Greifswalder Bodden, Wismar-Bucht, and Salzhaff / U. Schiewer The Szczecin (Oder-) Lagoon / T. Radziejewska and G. Schernewski Near-shore zones : Koserow and Tromper Wiek / U. Schiewer Gulf of Gdańsk and Puck Bay / L. Kruk-Dowgiałło and A. Szaniawska The Vistula Lagoon / B. Chubarenko and P. Margoński The Curonian Lagoon / Z.R. Gasiūnaitė ... [et al.] Gulf of Riga and Pärnu Bay / J. Kotta ... [et al.] Haapsalu and Matsalu Bays / J. Kotta, A. Jaanus, and I. Kotta The Neva Estuary ecosystem / I.V. Telesh, S.M. Golubkov, and A.F. Alimov The Gulf of Finland / H. Pitkänen, J. Lehtoranta, and H. Peltonen The Stockholm Archipelago / C. Hill and K. Wallström The Askö area and Himmerfjärden / H. Kautsky Odense Fjord and Kerteminde Fjord/Kertinge Nor / H.U. Riisgård, M.H. Jensen, and N. Rask Synthesis / U. Schiewer.