| Title |
Changes in phytoplankton communities along a north-south gradient in the Baltic Sea between 1990 and 2008 |
| Authors |
Jaanus, Andres ; Andersson, Agneta ; Olenina, Irina ; Toming, Kaire ; Kaljurand, Kaire |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Boreal environment research.. Helsinki : Finnish Environment Institute. 2011, vol. 16, suppl. A, p. 191-208.. ISSN 1239-6095. eISSN 1797-2469 |
| Keywords [eng] |
Aphanizomenon ; Aphanizomenon flos-aquae ; Cyanobacteria ; Planktothrix agardhii |
| Abstract [eng] |
Evaluation of changes in Baltic Sea phytoplankton communities has been hampered by a lack of quantitative long-term data. We investigated changes in biomass of summer (June–September) phytoplankton over the last two decades (1990–2008) along a north–south gradient in the Baltic Sea. The areas were characterized by different temperature, salinity and nutrient conditions. Thirty taxonomic groups were selected for the statistical analysis. Increases in total phytoplankton, particularly cyanobacterial, biomass were observed in the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland. In these two areas over the study period cyanobacteria also became abundant earlier in the season, and in the Curonian Lagoon Planktothrix agardhii replaced Aphanizomenon flos-aquae as the most abundant cyanobacterium. In general, water temperature was the most influential factor affecting the summer phytoplankton communities. Our data suggest that temperature increases resulting from climate change are likely to cause basin-specific changes in the phytoplankton communities, which in turn may affect overall ecosystem functioning in the Baltic Sea. |
| Published |
Helsinki : Finnish Environment Institute |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2011 |
| CC license |
|
