Tasks and selected results of the project

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Tasks and selected results of the
projectEcosystem approach to marine spatial
planning Polish marine areas and the Natura
2000 network

• Department of Ecology, Maritime Institute in
  Gdansk
• Sopot, June 2008

L. Kruk-Dowgiallo, A. Osowiecki, P. Brzeska, R.
Opiola, M. Blenska
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Areas of research
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Methodology

• Selection of sampling sites based on habitats
  delineated by experts using sonar and bathimetric
  maps

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Methodology

• Sampling of benthic flora and fauna
• scuba diver
• DAK, van Veen grab
• video and photo documentation
• type of sediment
• vegetation cover

DAK device for collecting biological samples
Samples preservation - benthic flora - frozen -
benthic fauna - preserved in 4 formaldehyde
solution Analyses - qualitative - species
composition - quantitative flora - dwg/m2,
fauna - wwg/m2, abundance
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Baltic habitat classification

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

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EUNIS Habitat Classification
A Marine habitats
Level 1
Substrate
Littoral A1 (rock) A2 (sediment)
non-mobile
Level 2
Yes
mobile
Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.
Yes
No
A5 Sublittoral sediment
A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata
A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata
A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment (gravel, coarse
sand)
Level 3
A4.1High energy circalittoral rock
A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock
A5.2 Sublittoral sand
A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral rock
A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral rock
A5.3 Sublittoral mud
A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock
A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock
A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments
A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte dominated sediment
Level 4 5 LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT TYPES
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Results

• Puck Bay
• A5 Sublittoral sediment
• A5.2 Sublittoral sand
• A5.3 Sublittoral mud
• A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments
• A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment

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Puck BayA5 Sublittoral sediment

• A5.2 Sublittoral sand
• A5.21 Sublittoral sand sediment in low or
  reduced salinity
• A5.211 Baltic level sandy bottoms of the
  infralittoral photic zone with little or no
  macrophyte vegetation

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Puck BayA5 Sublittoral sediment

• A5.2 Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment
• A5.54 Angiosperm communities in reduced
  salinity
• A5.545 Zostera beds in reduced salinity
  infralittoral sediments

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Puck BayA5 Sublittoral sediment
A5.2 Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated
sediment A5.2x Macroalgae communities in
reduced salinity proposal A5.2xx
Chara baltica dominated sublittoral sediment
proposal

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Results

• Slupsk Bank boulder area
• A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata
• A5 Sublittoral sediment

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Slupsk Bank boulder area A3 Infralittoral rock
and other hard substrata
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
A.3?? Mytilus edulis and Furcellaria lumbricalis
community - proposal
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EUNIS Habitat Classification
A Marine habitats
Level 1
Substrate
Littoral A1 (rock) A2 (sediment)
non-mobile
Level 2
Yes
mobile
Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.
Yes
No
A5 Sublittoral sediment
A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata
A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata
?Offshore Infralittoral...
?Offshore Circalittoral...
A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment (gravel, coarse
sand)
Level 3
A4.1High energy circalittoral rock
A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock
A5.2 Sublittoral sand
A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral rock
A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral rock
A5.3 Sublittoral mud
A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock
A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock
A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments
A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte dominated sediment
Level 4 5 LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT TYPES
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Slupsk Bank boulder areaA5 Sublittoral sediment

• A5.6 Sublittoral biogenic reefs
• A5.62 Sublittoral mussel beds on sediment?
• Biogenic reefs or mosaic sediments?

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A Marine habitats
Level 1 ?
Substrate
Littoral A1 (rock) A2 (sediment)
non-mobile
X32 ?? Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile substrata
in the infralittoral zone
Yes
Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.
mobile
Yes
Level 2 ?
No
A5 Sublittoral sediment
A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata
A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata
?Offshore Infralittoral...
?Offshore Circalittoral...
A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment (gravel, coarse
sand)
X32.1 High energy Mosaic of mobile and
non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone
Level 3 ?
A4.1High energy circalittoral rock
A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock
A5.2 Sublittoral sand
A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral rock
X32.2 Moderate energy Mosaic of mobile and
non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone
A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral rock
A5.3 Sublittoral mud
A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock
A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock
A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments
X32.3 Low energy Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile
substrata in the infralittoral zone
A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte dominated sediment
Level 4 5 ? List of potential habitat types
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Tasks to do for Department of Ecology

• 3.2.3.1 Model for identifying the habitats of PMA
  in reference to EUNIS classification and the
  results of methodology studies. (9)
• 3.2.3.4 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)

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Criteria of natural valuation of marine water
areas
Elements Criteria
Benthic flora presence of macrophytes (sandy or stony sediment) - biomass of each taxon (angosperms, macroalgae)
Benthic flora Underwater meadows (habitats for fauna) - ratio of Angiosperms biomass to benthic flora biomass
Benthic flora Presence of species used in restoration of degrated water areas - Ratio of protected/endangered species biomass to benthic flora biomass
Benthic flora Trophy state - biomass of Pilayella and Ectocarpus in total benthic flora biomass
Benthic fauna Biomarkers
Benthic fauna Species richness/ diversity
Benthic fauna Abundance of oppurtunists
Benthic fauna Dominant species
Benthic fauna Community trophic structure
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Problems to be disscussed

• Energy levels in the Baltic Sea.
• Adding new habitat classes to EUNIS
  classificaton
• mosaic sediments
• offshore habitats, e.g. Slupsk Bank boulder
• 3. Criteria for natural valuation