Charophytes in the estuarine Curonian Lagoon: Have the changes in diversity, abundance and distribution occurred since the late 1940s?

The results of the recent (2014-2015) inventory and three historical datasets (1949-1959, 1960-1980 and 1997-2007) were analyzed in order to track the long-term changes of charophytes in the largest estuarine lagoon of the Baltic Sea. The present species composition of charophytes in the estuarine p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Oceanological and hydrobiological studies Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 186 - 198
Main Authors:	Sinkevicene, Z, Bucas, M, Ilgine, R, Vaiciute, D, Katarzyte, M, Petkuviene, J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Berlin De Gruyter 01-06-2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Subjects:	Abundance Aquatic plants Baltic Sea Biodiversity Brackish water Brackishwater environment Community composition Composition Datasets Distribution Estuaries Eutrophication Freshwater Geographical distribution Herbivores Inland water environment Lagoons Long-term changes macrophytes Marine Pollutant identification Pollution effects Salinity Salinity effects Species composition Surveys Water Water analysis Water pollution Water properties Water quality ANE, Poland, Pomerania ANE, Poland ANE, Baltic Sea Baltic Sea
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Summary:	The results of the recent (2014-2015) inventory and three historical datasets (1949-1959, 1960-1980 and 1997-2007) were analyzed in order to track the long-term changes of charophytes in the largest estuarine lagoon of the Baltic Sea. The present species composition of charophytes in the estuarine part of the Curonian Lagoon consisted of 7 species, including tolerant to salinity ( , , and ) and typical brackish-water species ( , and ). The highest congruence of species was between the 1997-2007 and 2014-2015 datasets, which covered respectively eutrophication and post-eutrophication periods. The 1949-1959 dataset (closest to the reference conditions) differed by the absence of typical brackish-water species. The 1960-1980 dataset (the major period of eutrophication) was relatively poor in study sites and species. During the last 6 decades, only tolerant to salinity freshwater species were constant and abundant; only can be considered as extinct. Recently, became dominant and widespread. The changes in the charophyte species composition, abundance and distribution can be explained by different intensity of surveys and/or density of study sites, but also by the increased exposure to brackish waters since 1980s and/or recently reduced effect of eutrophication.
ISSN:	1897-3191 1730-413X 1897-3191
DOI:	10.1515/ohs-2017-0019