Management Options and Effects on a Marine Ecosystem

Assessing the Future of the Baltic

Bibliographic Data

ID10889138
AuthorsFredrik Wulff (Stockholm University), Oleg P Savchuk, Oleg Savchuk (0000-0002-3873-4662), Alexander Sokolov (0000-0002-3549-1175), Christoph Humborg (0000-0002-0649-5599), Carl-Magnus Mörth, Carl‐Magnus Mörth (0000-0003-0541-0781)
Year2007
Volume36
Issue2
Pages243-249
Publication date2007-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAMBIO (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0044-7447 • E-ISSN: 1654-7209
PublisherRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences (PUBLISHER • SE)
DOI10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[243:moaeoa]2.0.co;2
PMID17520940
OpenAlexW2174792858
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited34

We are using the coupled models in a decision support system, Nest, to evaluate the response of the marine ecosystem to changes in external loads through various management options. The models address all the seven major marine basins and the entire drainage basin of the Baltic Sea. A series of future scenarios have been developed, in close collaboration with the Helsinki Commission, to see the possible effects of improved wastewater treatment and manure handling, phosphorus-free detergents, and less intensive land use and live stocks. Improved wastewater treatment and the use of phosphorus-free detergents in the entire region would drastically decrease phosphorus loads and improve the marine environment, particularly the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms. However, the Baltic Sea will remain eutrophic, and to reduce other effects, a substantial reduction of nitrogen emissions must be implemented. This can only be obtained in these scenarios by drastically changing land use. In a final scenario, we have turned 50% of all agricultural lands into grasslands, together with efficient wastewater treatments and a ban of phosphorus in detergents. This scenario will substantially reduce primary production and the extension of hypoxic bottoms, increase water transparency in the most eutrophied basins, and virtually eliminate extensive cyanobacterial blooms.

Agriculture · Drainage basin · Ecosystem · Environmental protection · Eutrophication · Geography · Marine Strategy Framework Directive · Nutrient · Sewage treatment · Wastewater · Water resource management · Ecology · Environmental Engineering · Environmental Science · Marine and coastal ecosystems · Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics · Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal

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