Southeastern Baltic Sea Research Articles

Сезонная изменчивость нефтяного загрязнения в Юго-Восточной Балтике

Сезонная изменчивость нефтяного загрязнения в Юго-Восточной Балтике

Reproductive Strategies of Non-Native Planktonic Crustaceans in the South-Eastern Baltic Sea

Three nonnative crustacean species have been registered in the zooplankton of the South-Eastern Baltic Sea (SEB). Calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa and cladoceran Cercopagis pengoi have established sustainable self-reproducing populations in the SEB. The successful development of the A. tonsa population is supported by its ability to produce diapausing eggs under unfavorable temperature conditions. The reproductive strategy of C. pengoi in the environmental conditions of the SEB is aimed at increasing the gamogenesis period along with the growing production of the resting eggs. In the SEB environmental conditions, parthenogenesis is the dominant type of reproduction of cladoceran Evadne anonyx.

Distribution of metals and extent of contamination in sediments from the south-eastern Baltic Sea (Lithuanian zone)

Summary The distribution of metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn) in surface sediments and the potential pollution sources in the south-eastern part (SE) of the Baltic Sea (Lithuanian zone) were investigated in relation to the environmental characteristics (amount of fine-grained particles, TOC content in sediments, origin of sedimentary organic matter, salinity, water depth) in 2011–2014. The higher metal concentrations were measured in sediments of the Curonian Lagoon and in the open waters. An approach using various environmental indices (enrichment factor EF, geoaccumulation index Igeo and contamination factor CF) was used to quantitatively assess a contamination degree. The principal component analysis (PCA) was applied in order to further scrutinize pollution from metal sources. The values of the contamination indices showed no/very low sediment contamination with Ni and Cr, minor–moderate contamination with Cu, Zn and Pb and moderate–considerable pollution with Cd. The strong relationships among metals suggested their similar distribution pattern and a combination of natural and anthropogenic sources. The higher metal concentrations coincided with an increasing amount of fine-grained fraction and organic carbon. In the territorial waters, the distribution of elements was related to the water depth. In addition, the binding of metals with insoluble iron sulphides might explain their high concentrations at the most remote and deepest stations.

First record of tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus, 1758), from the south-eastern Baltic Sea (Lithuania)

First record of tub gurnard, <i>Chelidonichthys lucerna</i> (Linnaeus, 1758), from the south-eastern Baltic Sea (Lithuania)

Spring thermocline formation in the coastal zone of the southeastern Baltic Sea based on field data in 2010–2013

The transition from winter vertical mixing to the formation of the spring thermocline in the southeastern Baltic Sea is studied based on data from the hydrophysical measurements program (11 expeditions) in the Russian part of Gdansk Bay in March–June 2010, 2011, and 2013. CTD measurements were taken along the standard 18-km transect across the isobaths with a 500-m step abeam the city of Baltiysk. A set of frequently measured data was collected in a 1–2 week interval from the end of March to the beginning of May, which made it possible to analyze the transformation of the vertical thermal structure of water from inverse winter type to the summer stratification with the transition of temperature over the temperature of the density maximum. Series of repeated measurements at the deep and coastal stations as well as surface and subsurface towed measurements were carried out. The fact that lenses of freshened warmer water appear at the surface almost simultaneously with intensification of cold intrusions in intermediate (10–40 m) layers makes it possible not only to confirm the advective nature of the formation of the spring thermocline in the Baltic Sea, but also to hypothesize about the intensification of intrabasin exchange when winter-time vertical mixing ceases: the potential energy excess supported by vertical mixing in the 60-m upper quasi-homogeneous layer (UQL) of the Baltic Proper, in which the horizontal estuarine salinity gradient is significant, is converted to kinetic energy of exchange currents as the mixing process terminates. Such water dynamics makes it possible to explain the intensification of intrusions in the Baltic in spring and the formation of the cold intermediate layer due to the fast propagation of late-winter UQL water from the Bornholm Basin to the Baltic Proper. The results agree well with earlier published studies of other authors.

Habitat use and migratory behaviour of pikeperch Sander lucioperca in Lithuanian and Latvian waters as inferred from otolith Sr:Ca ratios

Determination of the geographic boundaries that define a stock is a key challenge in fisheries management. Acquiring an understanding of spatial distribution and migration patterns of pikeperch Sander lucioperca populations in the south-eastern Baltic Sea region would help to delineate the stocks and contribute towards sustainable exploitation of the population. In this study, habitat use and migratory behaviour of S. lucioperca were inferred from otolith Sr:Ca ratios obtained via an Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer. S. lucioperca collected from the inland Kaunas City water reservoir, where downstream migration is precluded by a hydro-power plant, consistently showed a freshwater signature in their otoliths throughout their life history. In contrast, those collected from the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon in Lithuania, and the lower reaches of the Daugava River in Latvia had ratios indicative of movement between fresh and brackish water habitats. Although S. lucioperca can inhabit brackish water bodies, they predominantly reside and reproduce in freshwater systems. It is thought that periodic post-spawning migration to the sea during spring is related to better foraging conditions and perhaps as a strategy for shedding ectoparasites. Currently, catch quotas apply only to those S. lucioperca taken from the Curonian Lagoon and not the Baltic Sea. Frequent migration between freshwater habitats and the Baltic Sea suggest that S. lucioperca stocks from a given river/estuary system should be considered as a single management unit despite individual differences in migratory behaviour. The extent to which migration into the Baltic Sea could potentially compromise the effectiveness of catch quotas was the main issue which initiated this study.

Iceberg and ice-keel ploughmarks on the Gdansk-Gotland Sill (south-eastern Baltic Sea)

New interpretation of the undulating moraine relief of the Gdansk-Gotland Sill, Baltic Sea is proposed. Relict iceberg and ice-keel ploughmarks were observed based on the integration of recently acquired side-scan sonar, multi-beam, single-beam and lithological data. The most likely time of their formation is the period of fast Scandinavian sheet retreat occurring from approximately 13.2 to 11.7 ka. Weak erosional-accumulative processes on the sill from 11.7 ka until the present favoured preservation of the iceberg ploughmarks. The predominant directions of the ploughmarks (north–south and northwest–southeast) coincide with the major iceberg (ice) drift direction from the Scandinavian ice sheet. Furrow width varies from 1 to 300 m with a main width of 20–60 m in a depth range of 1 to 10 m (mostly 2–4 m depth). The ploughmarks are flanked by side ridges 0.5–2 m high, and there is a push mound at the end of some furrows. Three types of cross-sectional furrow profiles have been distinguished: V-shaped cross-section profiles would have been formed by a peaked iceberg keel, U-shaped profiles by a flat keel, and W-shaped profiles by double-keel icebergs (ice ridges). The wide local depressions at the end of ploughmarks could have been formed during periods of fast falling of the Baltic Ice Lake water level, when the ice ridges (stamukhi) or icebergs could ground into the seafloor.

Trophic network model of exposed sandy coast: Linking continental and marine water ecosystems

A macroscopic food web network for the exposed sandy coastal zone of the south-eastern Baltic Sea was reconstructed using ECOPATH software to assess the matter and energy balance in the ecosystem. The model incorporated 40 living functional groups representing the Baltic Sea coastal system of Lithuania during the first decade of 21rst century. The overall pedigree index of our model was relatively high (0.66) as much of the input data originated from the study area. The results indicate net heterotrophy of the coastal zone due to strong influences from the nearby river – lagoon system (Curonian Lagoon). The majority of fish species and waterbirds were present in the coastal system on a seasonal basis and their migrations contributed to heterotrophic conditions. Among fish, the freshwater stragglers possibly contribute to the reversal of flow in biomass and energy from the coastal zone to the river-lagoon system. Top predators such as breeding and wintering piscivorous waterbirds and large pike-perch were identified as keystone species. There was a clear negative balance for the biomass of small marine pelagic fishes such as smelt, sprat and Baltic herring which represent the main prey items in this system.

Characterization of aerosol particles over the southern and South-Eastern Baltic Sea

Abstract Studies of aerosol particle number concentration (PNC) level over open sea in the southern and south-eastern Baltic Sea regions were performed during five cruises (2005–2006, 2008–2010) by RV Oceania and at the coastal Preila station (Lithuania). A comparative analysis was performed of aerosol PNC variation at open sea versus measurements taken at the coastal site under various conditions (breaking waves, fog events, NPF), considering transport of forest fire products and advection of different air mass types to the investigation sites. It was found that the average PNC over the open sea (3000–4000 cm− 3) was generally higher than at the coastal site (2000–3000 cm− 3). Breaking waves caused by the latitudinal or longitudinal long-lasting (3–4 days) constant-direction wind under stormy conditions had the strongest effect on the aerosol PNC over the Baltic Sea. The aerosol PNC in the marine boundary layer (MBL) of the south-eastern Baltic Sea during fog did not depend on the air mass type over open sea, in contrast to the coastal site, that is, the average PNC level (3000–4000 cm− 3) in the MBL, which could be constantly affected by specific environmental factors as a source of condensation nuclei for the fog formation. Short-term increases of aerosol PNC in the MBL (5000–10,000 cm− 3) were higher than in the same periods of the time scale at the coastal site (3000–6000 cm− 3) during NPF events, and therefore the open sea environment may facilitate a more favourable condition for the NPF, that is, exhaust and biogenic emissions from ships and the marine environment.

Upwelling or differential cooling? Analysis of satellite SST images of the Southeastern Baltic Sea

The results of comparative analysis of sea surface temperature variations along horizontal sections in the coastal zone are given. The data used had been taken by MODIS spectroradiometers (Aqua, Terra) in the Southeastern Baltic, in periods of coastal upwelling—in the periods of autumn differential cooling over coastal continental slopes (facilitating water subsidence along these slopes). Studying 135 SST images of coastal upwelling events in May–October 2000–2014 and four cooling events in October–November 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2009 revealed the specific features of the shape of horizontal temperature profiles on sea surface along sections over coastal continental slopes. In addition to the higher differences between water surface temperatures in the deep and coastal parts of the sea (up to 14°C), upwelling features an appreciable distance from the cold-water core to the coast (up to 3–15 km) and a variable shape of horizontal profiles of water temperature on the sea surface along the sections. Conversely, during autumn differential cooling, water temperature difference on the surface is relatively small, the shape of the dependence of surface water temperature on the distance to the shore does not change over time, varies only slightly with the alongshore displacement of the section, and shows low sensitivity to bathymetry and even to wind effect. Thus, the analysis of the shape of the temperature on the sea surface along horizontal sections over coastal continental slopes enables the diagnostics of the regime of vertical water exchange in the coastal zone.

Predatory diet and potential effects of Orconectes limosus on river macroinvertebrate assemblages of the southeastern Baltic Sea basin: implications for ecological assessment

Predatory diet and potential effects of Orconectes limosus on river macroinvertebrate assemblages of the southeastern Baltic Sea basin: implications for ecological assessment

Grain size variability as an indicator of sediment transport alongshore the Curonian Spit (south-eastern Baltic Sea)

Sediment samples have been collected along the sea coast of the Curonian Spit in summer season of 2011, 2014 and 2015-years. According to grain size analysis the shoreline and the berm consist of well and very well-sorted sand, medium-sized on the southern (Russian) part of the spit, medium and fine on the northern (Lithuanian) part. ‘McLaren’ method was applied to determine the long-shore sediment transport directions. Mismatch of results with those obtained by methods based on simulation of resulted wave action did not prove the hypothesis that ‘McLaren’ method was able to reveal long-term resulted sediment transport. The hypothesis that ‘McLaren’ method indicates the directions of alongshore sediment transport during the stormy conditions preceding the sampling period was not proved also. It was concluded that application of ‘McLaren’ method in respect of the Curonian Spit shore, which is a transit one without permanent sources or sinks of sediments, is not efficient. ‘McLaren’ method was applied to describe the cross-shore sediment movement. It was found that deposits from the trough (located between the bar and shoreline) are transported to the shoreline that is in a line with the known fact about cross-shore transport of bottom material during the calm weather.

Maritime potential of the Russian sector of the south-eastern Baltic Sea and its spatial usage

Five major uses of sea space in the Russian sector of the southeastern Baltic Sea (SEBS) are navigation, fishery, mining, recreation, and military uses. A brief description of each existing and future marine space user as well as conflicts between them are presented in this study. The total area of each use was calculated. The most extensive zones are occupied by commercial fishery and military uses, which cover almost the entire exclusive economical zone. Special attention was made for potential marine protected areas (especially in offshore areas of the Curonian Spit, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), which are not under legislation of the Kaliningrad Oblast’ but require a particular defence. The area offshore of the western coast has the greatest economic activity and is the most vulnerable part of the open sea. Future intensification of the marine space use will result in increased negative load to the marine environment. Sustainable development concept and maritime spatial planning are declarative at the state level for many years, there is still no implementation mechanism.

Spatial patterns in heavy-mineral concentrations along the Curonian Spit coast, southeastern Baltic Sea

The 98-km-long Curonian Spit is fronted by beaches mainly composed of quartz sand with minor high-density fractions. In this study heavy-mineral concentration (HMC) trends and grain-size statistical parameters were used to assess their role as indicators of natural processes, human activities, and patterns of longshore transport. A total of 92 surface sand samples were collected at 1 km intervals from the middle of the beach along the Baltic Sea shoreline of the spit between Klaipėda strait in Lithuania and Zelenogradsk in Russia. HMC contribution was assessed in the laboratory using bulk low-field magnetic susceptibility (MS) as a proxy for ferrimagnetic and paramagnetic mineral content. Quartz-dominated (background) sand is generally characterized by low MS values of κ < 50 μSI, whereas higher values κ > 150 μSI are typical for heavy-mineral-rich sand. The greatest MS values along the middle of the beach occur in the southern part of the spit and are 40 times higher than in the northern sector. This pattern suggests the existence of a longshore particle flux with HMC distribution having the potential as a useful tracer of longshore sediment transport. Local anomalously high MS excursions are associated with contribution of iron-rich materials from adjacent man-made structures. Therefore, temporally constrained HMC distribution along the middle of the beach reflects the cumulative effect of antecedent geologic framework, longshore sediment transfer, erosional and accretionary processes, wave and wind climate, and local coastal protective structures.

Spatial Distribution of Carbonaceous Aerosol in the Southeastern Baltic Sea Region (Event of Grass Fires)

The aerosol chemical composition in air masses affected by large vegetation fires transported from the Kaliningrad region (Russia) and southeast regions (Belarus and Ukraine) during early spring (March 2014) was characterized at the remote background site of Preila, Lithuania. In this study, the chemical composition of the particulate matter was studied by high temporal resolution instruments, including an Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) and a seven-wavelength aethalo-meter. Air masses were transported from twenty to several hundred kilometres, arriving at the measurement station after approximately half a day of transport. The concentration-weighted trajectory analysis suggests that organic aerosol particles are mainly transported over the Baltic Sea and the continent (southeast of Belarus). Results show that a significant fraction of the vegetation burning organic aerosol is transformed into oxidised forms in less than a half-day. Biomass burning aerosol (BBOA) was quantified from the ACSM data using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis, while its spatial distribution was evaluated using air mass clustering approach.

Oil Pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea by Satellite Remote Sensing Data in 2004-2015

Abstract The results of satellite monitoring of oil pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea in 2004-2015 are discussed in the paper. Interannual and seasonal variability of oil pollution is investigated. A steady decrease in total oil pollution was observed from 2004 to 2011. After a sharp increase of oil pollution in 2012, oil pollution level has established at 0.39 PI Index. Maximum of oil spills is observed in the spring and summer, which is probably due to favorable weather conditions for the detection of oil spills on radar images. According to the analysis of the shapes of the detected oil spills, it was concluded that the main polluters of the sea surface are vessels. No oil spills originated from the oil platform D-6 was detected in 2004-2015. Results of numerical experiments with the Seatrack Web oil spill model show that in the case of potential discharge of oil from the D-6 platform, oil will not reach the Curonian Spit beaches during 48 h after an accident.

The Oldest Evidence for Human Habitation in the Baltic Region: A Preliminary Report on the Chronology and Archaeological Context of the Riadino‐5 Archaeological Site

We report the discovery of the oldest evidence for human presence in the southeastern Baltic Sea region. This paper presents an overview of the Riadino‐5 archaeological site in the lower course of the Šešupė River (Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia) and direct infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) ages for the culture‐bearing sediments from the site, which place the time of occupation well within the range of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 (ca 57–26 ka). Luminescence ages were determined using the multiple‐aliquot additive‐dose technique, applied to sand‐sized potassium feldspar. Four of the six IRSL samples from the site come from the cultural deposits, while two are from the surrounding sediments. The luminescence age of the deposits implies that human occupation of the southeastern Baltic Sea region occurred at least between 50 ka and 44 ka during the first half of MIS 3 and the Middle‐Upper Paleolithic.

Food sources of wintering piscivorous waterbirds in coastal waters: A triple stable isotope approach for the southeastern Baltic Sea

This study uses a triple isotope approach (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) to quantify the main food sources for wintering piscivorous waterbirds in the coastal zone of the southeastern Baltic Sea. Significant differences of δ15N and δ34S values among pelagic fishes, benthic fishes, and benthopelagic European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) were detected, while δ13C was similar among these sources. Using different combinations of δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values in mixing models, we found that common guillemot (Uria aalge) and red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) mostly foraged on pelagic prey (50–70% and 51–56%, respectively), whereas great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) consumed benthic prey (48–53%). European smelt comprised a substantial proportion of the diet of studied birds (19–36%). A stable isotope approach can be recommended as a non-lethal method to study avian diets in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea.

Distribution and sources of organic matter in sediments of the south-eastern Baltic Sea

Temporal and spatial distribution of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) as well as its sources in the south-eastern Baltic Sea were investigated. Organic matter was characterized by the organic carbon content, δ13C and δ15N signatures and C/N ratios. The sampling was performed in the coastal, offshore areas and in the Curonian Lagoon in the period from May 2012 to September 2014. The average elemental (C/N~6.4) and isotopic composition (δ13C from −29.6‰ to −24.9‰) of SOM suggested that during most of the year it was composed of both freshwater and marine phytoplanktonic material. Elevated δ15N values (average ranging from 5.6‰ to 6.7‰) were detected in SOM from the Curonian Lagoon. This most likely reflected the increased isotopic signal of the Nemunas River (δ15N~8‰) derived from the anthropogenic input in the basin area. At the Baltic Sea offshore sites, SOM had lower δ15N values (δ15N~3.5‰ on average), indicating phytoplankton blooms.A two-end member mixing model based on the carbon stable isotopic composition showed that a large proportion (~90%) of SOM in the northern part of the Curonian Lagoon was of the freshwater origin. The allochthonous organic matter accounted for about 47% of SOM in the studied Baltic Sea area with the highest contribution (about 75%) within the Curonian Lagoon plume zone in the coastal waters.

Peculiarities of distribution of oil polution in the Southeastern Baltic by satellite data and in situ measurements

The results of satellite monitoring of oil pollution of the sea surface and field measurements of the concentration of oil products in the water column and bottom sediments for the first time allowed the establishment of a relation between the surface pollution from ships and the general characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution of oil products in the Southeastern Baltic Sea. Areas with increased concentrations of oil products in the surface and bottom layers were determined in the southeastern Baltic Sea. The basic directions of pollution spread, which are consistent with the main direction of annual mean transport of substances in the Gdansk Basin, are determined.