Tasks and selected results of Tasks and selected results of the projectthe project

„Ecosystem approach to marine spatial planning – „Ecosystem approach to marine spatial planning – Polish marine areas and the Natura 2000 network”Polish marine areas and the Natura 2000 network”

Department of Ecology, Maritime Institute in GdańskDepartment of Ecology, Maritime Institute in Gdańsk

Sopot, June 2008Sopot, June 2008

L. Kruk-Dowgiałło, A. Osowiecki, P. Brzeska, R. Opioła, M. Błeńska

Areas of researchAreas of research

MethodologyMethodology

ResearchArea

B a l t i c S e a

H [m]

A

C

B

E F

D

GH

Sonar map of the Rowy boulder area (coastal waters Stilo-Ustka)

Batymetric map of the Rowy boulder area (coastal waters Stilo-Ustka)

Selection of sampling sitesSelection of sampling sites: based on habitats delineated by experts using sonar : based on habitats delineated by experts using sonar and bathimetric mapsand bathimetric maps

A3.4

A3.5

A3.7

A5.1

A5.2

MethodologyMethodology

Sampling of benthic flora and fauna: Sampling of benthic flora and fauna: - scuba diverscuba diver- DAK, van Veen grab DAK, van Veen grab - video and photo documentation video and photo documentation - type of sedimenttype of sediment- % vegetation cover% vegetation cover

Samples preservationSamples preservation::- benthic flora - frozen- benthic flora - frozen- benthic fauna - preserved in 4% formaldehyde solution- benthic fauna - preserved in 4% formaldehyde solution

AnalysesAnalyses: : - qualitative - species composition- qualitative - species composition- quantitative: flora - dw- quantitative: flora - dw··g/mg/m22, fauna - ww, fauna - ww··g/mg/m22, abundance, abundance

DAK device for collecting biological samples

Baltic habitat classificationBaltic habitat classification

Classification based on:Classification based on: Species composition Biomass Type of the sediment % vegetation cover Photos and video films

AMarine habitats

Substrate

A5 Sublittoral sedimentA3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

mobile

non-mobile

Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.

A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata

NoYes

A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment

(gravel, coarse sand)

A5.2 Sublittoral sand

A5.3 Sublittoral mud

A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments

A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte

dominated sediment

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral

rock

A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock

A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock

A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral

rock

A4.1High energy circalittoral rock

A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock

Level 4 & 5 LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT

TYPES

LittoralA1 (rock)

A2 (sediment) Yes

EUNIS Habitat Classification

ResultsResults

Puck BayPuck Bay

A5: Sublittoral sedimentA5: Sublittoral sediment

A5.2 – Sublittoral sandA5.2 – Sublittoral sand

A5.3 – Sublittoral mudA5.3 – Sublittoral mud

A5.4 – Sublittoral mixed sediments A5.4 – Sublittoral mixed sediments

A5.5 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sedimentA5.5 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment

Puck BayPuck BayA5: Sublittoral sedimentA5: Sublittoral sediment

A5.2 – Sublittoral sandA5.2 – Sublittoral sand

A5.21 – Sublittoral sand sediment in low or reduced A5.21 – Sublittoral sand sediment in low or reduced salinitysalinity

A5.211 – Baltic level sandy bottoms of the infralittoral A5.211 – Baltic level sandy bottoms of the infralittoral photic zone with little or no macrophyte photic zone with little or no macrophyte vegetationvegetation

Puck BayPuck BayA5: Sublittoral sedimentA5: Sublittoral sediment

A5.2 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment

A5.54 – Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity

A5.545 – Zostera beds in reduced salinity infralittoral sediments

Puck BayPuck BayA5: Sublittoral sediment A5: Sublittoral sediment

A5.2 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sedimentA5.2 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment

A5.2x –A5.2x – Macroalgae communitiesMacroalgae communities in reduced salinityin reduced salinity proposal proposal

A5.2xx –A5.2xx – Chara balticaChara baltica dominated sublittoral sediment dominated sublittoral sediment

proposalproposal

ResultsResults

Słupsk Bank boulderSłupsk Bank boulder areaarea

A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

A5 Sublittoral sedimentA5 Sublittoral sediment

Słupsk Bank boulder area A3: Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

A.3?? Mytilus edulis and Furcellaria lumbricalis community - proposal

A3.4 : Baltic exposed infralittoral rock A3.5 : Baltic moderately exposed infralittoral rock A3.6 : Baltic sheltered infralittoral rock

Energy level need to be determined

AMarine habitats

Substrate

A5 Sublittoral sedimentA3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

mobile

non-mobile

Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.

A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata

NoYes

A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment

(gravel, coarse sand)

A5.2 Sublittoral sand

A5.3 Sublittoral mud

A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments

A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte

dominated sediment

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral

rock

A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock

A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock

A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral

rock

A4.1High energy circalittoral rock

A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock

Level 4 & 5 LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT

TYPES

LittoralA1 (rock)

A2 (sediment) Yes

EUNIS Habitat Classification

?Offshore Infralittoral... ?Offshore Circalittoral...

Słupsk Bank boulder areaSłupsk Bank boulder areaA5: Sublittoral sedimentA5: Sublittoral sediment

A5.6 – Sublittoral biogenic reefsA5.6 – Sublittoral biogenic reefs

A5.62 – Sublittoral mussel beds on sediment?A5.62 – Sublittoral mussel beds on sediment?

Biogenic reefs or mosaic sediments?

AMarine habitats

Substrate

A5 Sublittoral sedimentA3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

mobile

non-mobile

Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.

A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata

NoYes

A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment

(gravel, coarse sand)

A5.2 Sublittoral sand

A5.3 Sublittoral mud

A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments

A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte

dominated sediment

Level 3 →

Level 2 →

Level 1 →

A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral

rock

A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock

A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock

?Offshore Infralittoral... ?Offshore Circalittoral...

A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral

rock

A4.1High energy circalittoral rock

A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock

Level 4 & 5 → List of potential habitat types

X32 ??Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone

X32.2 Moderate energy Mosaic of mobile and non-

mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone

X32.1 High energy Mosaic of mobile and non-

mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone

X32.3 Low energy Mosaic of mobile and non-

mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone

LittoralA1 (rock)

A2 (sediment) Yes

Tasks to do for Tasks to do for Department of EcologyDepartment of Ecology

3.2.3.13.2.3.1 Model for identifying the habitats of PMA in reference to EUNIS classification and the results of methodology studies. (9%). (9%)

3.2.3.43.2.3.4 Developing maps of the coastal water habitats from Stilo to Ustka. Vector map of habitats. (10%)

2.1.5 Determining the elements and processes that characterize habitats for biological and socioeconomic valorization. Methodology instructions.(18%)

Criteria of natural valuation of Criteria of natural valuation of marine water areasmarine water areas

ElementsElements CriteriaCriteria

Benthic floraBenthic flora presence of macrophytes (sandy or stony sediment) -presence of macrophytes (sandy or stony sediment) -

biomass of each taxon (angosperms, macroalgae)biomass of each taxon (angosperms, macroalgae)

Underwater meadows (habitats for fauna) -Underwater meadows (habitats for fauna) -

ratio of Angiosperms biomass to benthic flora biomassratio of Angiosperms biomass to benthic flora biomass

Presence of species used in restoration of degrated water areas -Presence of species used in restoration of degrated water areas -

Ratio of protected/endangered species biomass to benthic flora biomassRatio of protected/endangered species biomass to benthic flora biomass

Trophy state -Trophy state -

% biomass of % biomass of PilayellaPilayella and and EctocarpusEctocarpus in total benthic flora biomass in total benthic flora biomass

Benthic faunaBenthic fauna BiomarkersBiomarkers

Species richness/ diversitySpecies richness/ diversity

Abundance of oppurtunistsAbundance of oppurtunists

Dominant speciesDominant species

Community trophic structureCommunity trophic structure

Problems to be disscussedProblems to be disscussed

1.1. Energy levels in the Baltic Sea.Energy levels in the Baltic Sea.

2.2. Adding new habitat classes to EUNIS Adding new habitat classes to EUNIS classificaton:classificaton:

- mosaic sedimentsmosaic sediments

- offshore habitats, e.g. Słupsk Bank offshore habitats, e.g. Słupsk Bank boulderboulder

3.3. Criteria for natural valuation Criteria for natural valuation