Silicate and baltic sea ecosystem response

Objective

Regulation of rivers and eutrophication in river basins has largely reduced dissolved silicate (DSi) loads to the Baltic Sea, which is partly responsible for decreasing DSi stocks reported. Reductions in DSi stocks can also be influenced by enhanced deposition in Baltic sediments due to marine eutrophicaton. There are indications that the proportion of diatoms has decreased while flagellates have increased in the Baltic. Similar species shift as a consequence of reduced DSi loads due to damming and marine europhication with far reaching effects for coastal ecosystems are reported worldwide. This project aims to quantify the relative importance of reduced loads vs. marine eutrophicaton for decreasing DSi stocks and its possible ecological effects on phytoplankton assemblages. The proposed project is focussed on the Baltic Sea, where the DSi problem is easier to discern, but the results have general relevance.

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-3. - Key action Sustainable Marine Ecosystems

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITET

Address

5,Frescativaegen 50
106 91 Stockholm
Sweden

Participants (8)

BALTIC SEA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Germany

Address

15,Seestrasse 15
18119 Rostock /Warnemunde

FINNISH ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE

Finland

Address

6,Kesäkatu 6
00251 Helsinki

LINKOEPING UNIVERSITY

Sweden

Address

581 83 Linkoeping

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE - MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Denmark

Address

399,Frederiksborgvej 399
4000 Roskilde

SEA FISHERIES INSTITUTE

Poland

Address

Ul. Kollataja 1
81 332 Gdynia

UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

Finland

Address

10900 Hanko

UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA

Latvia

Address

3,Daugavgrivas Street,8
1007 Riga

UNIVERSITY OF TARTU

Estonia

Address

Lai Street 40
51005 Tartu