BSEP116B Biodiversity in the Baltic Sea - Helcom

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Although no direct, dramatic mass mortalities may occur after exposure to contaminants, reduced fitness of organisms owing to physiological disturbances and increased energy costs, e.g., related to detoxification processes, synthesis of chaperone proteins and maintenance of other energy-consuming protective functions to cope with chemical stress, may have significant long-term structuring effects on population and community scales. PCBs and DDTs Amongst the most well-known success stories for nature conservation in the Baltic Sea are the recoveries of seal and predatory bird populations from the declines caused by hazardous chemicals. During the 1970s, the reproductive health of seals and predatory birds was observed to be severely impacted as a result of pollution by PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDT (dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane). Uterine damage is now less common in grey seals (Bäcklin et al. 2008) and for ringed seals the situation has also improved simultaneously with decreasing concentrations of contaminants (Helle 1981, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 2007). Intestinal ulcers, on the other hand, are now common, even in young grey seal individuals (HELCOM 2007g). Decreasing reproductive success of top predators is an indicator of detrimental effects of accumulating hazardous substances. The shell thickness of the eggs of common guillemot (Uria aalge) from Stora Karlsö in the central Baltic Proper has been monitored in Sweden since the end of the 1960s. The thin eggshells observed during the 1960s were attributed to the severe DDT pollution during that period. Guillemot eggshell thickness increased in the 1990s and the shell thickness is now back to levels recorded prior to the 1940s. Similar impacts and recovery from DDT and other substances have been observed for white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) brood size and nesting success (Figure 6.6.2). PCB levels in the muscle of herring in Swedish coastal areas from the Kattegat to the Bothnian Bay decreased significantly during the time period 1978/1980–2005. The levels are still significantly higher in the Baltic Proper and in the southern Bothnian Sea compared to the Kattegat and the Skagerrak. Two cod liver time-series (1980–2004/2005) from the southeast of Gotland and the Kattegat also show significant decreasing trends of PCBs (Bignert et al. 2007a). Heavy metals and dioxins Decreasing trends, or no trend at all, have been observed for mercury concentrations in herring in Swedish and Finnish coastal waters. In recent years, cadmium levels in herring and cod have been decreasing in some Swedish coastal areas. However, the levels have not yet reached those of the beginning of the 1980s (Bignert et al. 2007b, ICES 2007c). Among the positive signs is the clear decrease in lead levels in biota (e.g., herring and perch liver) in most Baltic Sea areas (Bignert et al. 2007c, ICES 2007c). Concentrations of dioxins in the Baltic marine ecosystem declined during the 1970s and 1980s but this decrease levelled off in the 1990s and fatty Baltic fish (e.g., herring and salmon) still have high levels of dioxin contamination (HELCOM 2004). 116 Figure 6.6.2. Mean brood size of white-tailed sea eagle on the Swedish Baltic coast over time. Sample size for each time period is given in brackets. Reference level based on 1858-1950 is given with 95 % confidence limits according to Helander & Bignert (2008). Organotin compounds The occurrence of organotin compounds is widespread in the Baltic marine environment (water, biota and bottom sediment), particularly near harbours and shipyards (Table 6.6.2, HELCOM 2009b). Elevated levels also occur near ship routes and at disposal sites for dredged material. The current
Table 6.6.2. TBT and TPhT concentrations in Baltic Sea water. The Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC) has been presented for comparison purposes (HELCOM 2009b). Area Denmark, Sound and Kattegat 1 Finland, Gulf of Finland, dredging sites 2 Lithuania, southern Baltic Proper, harbour area 3 Sweden, Bothnian Sea 4 Sweden, northern Baltic Proper 4 Seawater (ng l −1 as TBT or TPhT)
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Baltic Sea Environment Proceedings
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Published by: Helsinki Commission K
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE . . . . .
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6.6 Hazardous substances . . . . .
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1 INTRODUCTION 8 1.1 An integrated
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Box 1.1. Biodiversity The term biod
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of saline water from the North Sea
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14 On a global scale, marine ecosys
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Box 1.2. Regime shifts in the Balti
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2 MARINE LANDSCAPES AND HABITATS 18
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From an ecological point of view, a
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Box 2.1.2. The Baltic marine landsc
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• A coherent data set on benthic
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Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Lat
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Mud-sandflat, Greifswald Lagoon, Ge
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3 COMMUNITIES Communities are assem
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32 Spring bloom index 1200 1000 800
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34 Unusual events and new species i
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36 Depth limit (m) the Gulf of Both
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Number of species 16 14 12 10 8 6 4
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Figure 3.2.7. Left panel shows pred
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Implications for the Baltic Sea Act
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Biomass (wet weight, mg per m 2 ) B
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the other hand, is not selected by
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iomass can be used to assess enviro
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Average number of species 20 15 10
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52 Macoma baltica where the influen
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the total BT identified for each ma
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Recruitment (thousands) 8000000 700
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Alien species Several alien fish sp
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4 SPECIES The number of species in
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Table 4.1.1. Results of dedicated a
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Number of stranded porpoises 180 16
Page 68 and 69: is recommended to survey harbour po
Page 70 and 71: Number of individuals 12000 10000 8
Page 72 and 73: Mean blubber thickness (mm) 40 35 3
Page 74 and 75: Breeding pairs 60000 50000 40000 30
Page 76 and 77: predation on nests and nesting adul
Page 78 and 79: sites outside the Baltic, decreased
Page 80 and 81: Table 4.3.1. Development of the pop
Page 82 and 83: 80 Number of breeding pairs 3000 25
Page 84 and 85: The strategic goal of the BSAP to h
Page 86 and 87: for a given site or area. The secon
Page 88 and 89: Mussel bed reef community, Jasmund,
Page 90 and 91: Table 5.3. Assessment results of th
Page 92 and 93: Aerial photo of harbours seals (Pho
Page 94 and 95: 6 HUMAN PRESSURES ON BIODIVERSITY A
Page 96 and 97: Table 6.1.1. Catch range during the
Page 98 and 99: Baltic herring trawling, Bothnian B
Page 100 and 101: 6.1.3 Major international framework
Page 102 and 103: 100 Oil turnover (millions of tonne
Page 104 and 105: NOx emissions and sewage Macrophyte
Page 106 and 107: Communication links There are a num
Page 108 and 109: Figure 6.3.3. Left: concrete-stone
Page 110 and 111: ecommendations would contribute to
Page 112 and 113: Tourist fishing 110 cial fishery fo
Page 114 and 115: 112 Figure 6.5.1. Integrated classi
Page 116 and 117: can be considered as having been a
Page 120 and 121: Bearing in mind the complex hydrogr
Page 122 and 123: Box 6.7.1. Invasion status of the B
Page 124 and 125: Table 6.7.1. Examples of ecological
Page 126 and 127: munities that formerly consisted of
Page 128 and 129: 6.8.2 Activities generating noise i
Page 130 and 131: 128 and fish in the Baltic Sea area
Page 132 and 133: 800 700 600 bag of the two German B
Page 134 and 135: Fish swarm on kelp (Laminaria sp.)
Page 136 and 137: tion of ice cover, either through r
Page 138 and 139: 7 STATUS OF THE NETWORK OF MARINE A
Page 140 and 141: Box 7.1. Natura 2000 network of pro
Page 142 and 143: 25 20 on how the criteria on ecolog
Page 144 and 145: estrial, nearshore marine, and offs
Page 146 and 147: 144 >30 psu 18-30 psu 11-18 psu 7.5
Page 148 and 149: Permission needed Restricted Forbid
Page 150 and 151: Figure 7.8.a. MARXAN ’best portfo
Page 152 and 153: The BSPA network is relatively well
Page 154 and 155: Mammals. Among the mammals, the pop
Page 156 and 157: 154 taxonomic groups and communitie
Page 158 and 159: 156 provided by an ecosystem. Use o
Page 160 and 161: 158 Reduction of human pressures Wh
Page 162 and 163: 160 fishing on fish population dyna
Page 164 and 165: 162 Baden, S., Boström, C. (2001).
Page 166 and 167: 164 Season 2001-2002. Acta Zoologic
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166 Gasiūnaitė, Z.R., Cardoso, A.
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168 HELCOM & OSPAR (2003): Joint HE
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170 ICES (2008c). Report of the Bal
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172 area: density-dependent effects
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174 Noer, H., Clausager, I., Asferg
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176 Scheffer M., Carpenter S.R., Fo
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178 by passive acoustic monitoring.
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180 Warzaw, Poland Vilhunen, Jarmo,
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182 6.7 Alien speices Authors: Lepp
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ANNEX III: CONSERVATION STATUS OF T
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ANNEX IV: HABITAT OR SPECIES DISTRI
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ANNEX V: STATUS OF BREEDING AND WIN
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BSEP116B Biodiversity in the Baltic Sea - Helcom

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