The algal spring bloom in the Baltic Sea represents an anomaly from winter-spring patterns worldwide terms of frequent and recurring dominance dinoflagellates over diatoms. Analysis approximately 3500 samples monitoring programs revealed (i) that within major basins proportion varied 0.1 (Kattegat) to >0.8 (central Proper), (ii) substantial shifts (e.g. 0.2 0.6 Gulf Finland) dinoflagellate four decades. During a recent decade (1995–2004) increased relative diatoms mostly northernmost (Gulf...

The Baltic Sea is affected by a range of human induced environmental pressures such as eutrophication. Here we synthesize the ongoing shift from diatom dominance towards more dinoflagellates in parts during spring bloom and its potential effects on biogeochemical cycling key elements (e.g. C, N P). period with highest annual primary production sinking organic matter to sediment. fate this driver for material fluxes, affecting ecosystem functioning eutrophication feedback loops. dominant...

Summary We analysed the functional composition of coastal phytoplankton communities ( n = 7941) along gradient from marine to brackish waters Baltic Sea, using species‐specific morphological and ecological traits (ability fix atmospheric nitrogen, mixotrophy, use silica in cell walls, formation chains or colonies, motility, accessory pigment composition, size), describe measure differences between species. Mean pairwise distance increased spring mid‐ late summer all regions, due higher...

Spring bloom composition in the Baltic Sea, a partially ice‐covered brackish coastal waterbody, is shaped by winter‐spring weather conditions affecting relative dominance of diatoms and heterogeneous assemblage cold‐water dinoflagellates, dominated chain‐forming Peridiniella catenata complex at least three medium‐sized, single‐celled species: Biecheleria baltica, Gymnodinium corollarium, Scrippsiella hangoei . During last decades, community has dramatically changed several basins. We analyze...

The North Sea region boasted one of the world’s most important fisheries for many centuries. Climate directly and indirectly influences development survival pelagic fish in ecosystem. One indirect influence is food availability form phyto- zooplankton abundance, which strongly controlled by environmental factors. these factors local sea surface temperatures. A negative correlation between abundance temperature well established epeiric on European continental shelf. Continuous temporal...

The high number of freshwater species at low salinity and the correspondingly marine enveloping a conspicuous richness minimum intermediate salinities has shaped our basic understanding biodiversity along coastal gradient for almost 80 years. Visualized as Remane curve, this iconic concept was originally based on sedentary macroinvertebrates in Baltic Sea. To what extent can be generalized, particularly to free-drifting organisms, is currently debated. Here we use approximately 16,000...

Summary Blooms of nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacteria are recurrent phenomena in marine and freshwater habitats, their supplying role aquatic biogeochemical cycles is generally considered vital. The objective this study was to analyse whether an increasing proportion affects (i) the composition non‐diazotrophic component ambient phytoplankton communities (ii) resource use efficiency ( RUE ; ratio Chl a total nutrients) – important ecosystem function. We hypothesize that diazotrophs increase...

Abstract. Diatoms and dinoflagellates are major bloom-forming phytoplankton groups competing for resources in the oceans coastal seas. Recent evidence suggests that their competition is significantly affected by climatic factors under ongoing change, modifying especially conditions cold-water, spring bloom communities temperate Arctic regions. We investigated effects of community composition on carbon flows nutrient stoichiometry multiyear mesocosm experiments. Comparison differing showed...

Spatiotemporal patchiness of plankton and appropriate sampling strategy are crucial considerations for long-term studies dynamics, determining the confidence with which statistically significant ecological changes will be detected attributed to drivers. We analyze spatiotemporal variability Baltic Sea zooplankton using historical data from various monitoring programs. determined scales highest temporal spatial variability, focusing on distances time periods shorter than 100 km 90 days....

Abstract We determined the gross and net primary production (GPP NPP) for total community < 10 μ m size fraction, release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial respiration in Baltic Sea during spring bloom. Samples ( n = 126) were taken from surface (3 depth) covering most subbasins different phases bloom, defined by inorganic nutrient Chlorophyll a (Chl ) concentrations. During course NPP rate (i.e., growth rate) decreased 0.34 d −1 ± 0.03 (SE) to 0.15 0.02 (SE), contribution...

Abstract Functional traits are becoming more common in the analysis of marine zooplankton community dynamics associated with environmental change. We used groups functional properties to assess long‐term trends caused by certain conditions a highly eutrophicated gulf. Time series have been collected since 1960s Gulf Riga, Baltic Sea, and were analyzed using combination multivariate methods (principal coordinate analysis) generalized additive models. One most significant changes was...

Abstract Fecundity and reproductive potential are important factors to be considered in evaluating trajectories demographic predictions of fish populations. Therefore, characterizing the nature quantifying extent any failure should fisheries studies. Here, we describe morphological changes developed ovaries autumn-spawning herring (Clupea harengus membras) caught northern Baltic Sea evaluate magnitude this phenomenon during 3 consecutive years. Visibly, abnormal were histologically...

The history of expansion bloom-forming cold water dinoflagellates in the Northern Baltic Sea was studied using 100-year-old sediment archives their resting cysts. Vertical cyst distributions Biecheleria baltica and Apocalathium malmogiense, two indistinguishable by light microscopy not recognized as distinct species monitoring, chain-forming Peridiniella catenata were analysed Pb210 Cs137 dated layers a core from deep, hypoxic accumulation bottoms Gulf Finland. Cyst profiles showed that B....

Biodiversity losses in marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems have raised concerns about the maintenance of sustainable ecosystem functions services (“biodiversity crisis”). A positive diversity—productivity relationship has previously been supported by theoretical models, laboratory field experiments a variety including unicellular microbial communities. Here we show an increasing biomass yield aquatic primary producers at scale, paralleled long‐term biodiversity change, which...

Abstract Predator–prey interactions are a primary structuring force in marine foodwebs and they play an important role the dynamics of both fish populations their prey. We investigated individual spatial patterns feeding two dominant zooplanktivorous clupeids—herring Clupea harengus membras sprat Sprattus sprattus—in Baltic Sea summer, by means taxonomic analysis stomach content. Both species consumed predominantly small-sized copepods (Temora longicornis, Eurytemora affinis, Acartia spp.)....

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 473:53-66 (2013) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10065 Harmonizing large data sets reveals novel patterns in Baltic Sea phytoplankton community structure Kalle Olli1,*, Olga Trikk1, Riina Klais1, Robert Ptacnik2, Tom Andersen3, Sirpa Lehtinen4, Timo Tamminen4 1Institute of and Earth Sciences, University...

Abstract The general positive effect of warmer winters on the abundance small-sized zooplankton in following spring and early summer has been reported from different parts Baltic Sea, but mechanism this link is not clear. Although causal links cannot be deduced with confidence observational data, sufficiently detailed analyses can nevertheless provide insights to potential mechanisms. We present an example such analysis, scrutinizing effects winter hydroclimate dominant calanoid copepods...