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Preserving Baltic Sea Biodiversity: Challenges Amid Human Pressures

Explore the importance of genetic, species, and functional diversity in the Baltic Sea, facing threats like eutrophication, pollution, and climate change. Learn about the environment, characteristics, and the status of Baltic Sea biodiversity.

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Preserving Baltic Sea Biodiversity: Challenges Amid Human Pressures

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  1. PRESERVING BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY – CONTINUOUS CHALLENGE ON THE SCENE OF INCREASING HUMAN PRESSURES AND CLIMATIC VARIABILITY KATARINA OGANJAN, GEORG MARTIN UNIVERSITY OF TARTU FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ESTONIAN MARINE INSTITUTE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY BALTIC CONFERENCE 19 MAY 2016

  2. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY Genetic diversity Species diversity Functional diversity Resilience Adaptation Buffering Loss of species Degradation of habitats Reduced ecosystem function Vulnerability Stochastic events Anthropogenic pressures Climate change MAY 2016

  3. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN BALTIC SEA CHARACTERISTICS • Land locked • Area: 422 000 km2 • Maximum depth: 459m • Catchment area: 1 700 000 km2 • Divided between 9 countries • Coastal population 85 mil. Inh MAY 2016

  4. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT • Young sea – 10 000 yo • Lake alike – no tides, brackish, ice • Connected through Danish straits • Water stagnation 25-40 years • Salinity gradient and stratification MAY 2016 HELCOM 2009

  5. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN STATUS OF BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY MAY 2016 BALTIC SEA ENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS 139/2012

  6. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY • Eutrophication • Commercial and recreational fishing • Toxic pollution • Shipping and Oil pollution • Introduction of alien species • Construction • + Climate change MAY 2016 BALTIC SEA ENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS 140/ 2013

  7. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN EUTROPHICATION MAY 2016 HELCOM 2009

  8. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN EUTROPHICATION IN THE BALTIC SEA • Turbid water • Algal blooms • Mats of macroalgae • Reduced benthic habitats • Oxygen depletion HELCOM 2009 MAY 2016

  9. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN SPECIES • Changes in habitat, trophic webs • Toxins • New disease agents and parasites • Loss of native genotypes • Extinction MAY 2016 BALTIC SEA ENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS 140/ 2013

  10. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BIODIVERSITY • Increase in temperature 3-5C • Decreased frequency of salt water inflows • Increased precipitation • Shortened ice season • Further processes will result in: • Further eutrophication and increase in pelagic production • Stronger stratification and spread of bottom anoxia • Effects on birds, seals, littoral communities GeroSciCom MAY 2016

  11. BALTIC SEA BIODIVERSITY KATARINA OGANJAN CONCLUSIONS • Continuous threat from human activities and climate change • Eutrophication, pollution, fisheries • National and sub-regional actions MAY 2016

  12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! CONTACT: WWW.SEA.EE katarina.oganjan@ut.ee

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